AC-204 launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: February 19, 2002

T-00:02.73 Engine Start
Engine start The Russian-built RD-180 engine rumbles to life and builds to 74 percent thrust. A health check of eight engine parameters is performed by the rocket's onboard computer a half-second before liftoff.
T+00:00 Launch
Liftoff The maiden flight of Atlas 3B begins as the rocket is released from pad 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
T+00:02 Roll and Pitch Programs
Roll During the vertical ascent Atlas completes a 7-second roll maneuver to align itself with proper flight azimuth. Following the roll, the rocket begins a pitch-over maneuver with Centaur inertial guidance system in control of pitch and yaw programs.
T+00:06 Throttle Up
Throttle up The RD-180 engine is throttled up from its liftoff thrust of 74 percent to over 90 percent after the rocket clears the launch pad 36B tower.
T+00:35 Throttle Down
Throttle down The RD-180 engine is throttled down to a thrust level of about 67 percent to ease the rocket through the dense lower atmosphere.
T+01:05 Through Max-Q
Transonic The rocket passes through maximum dynamic pressure and goes transonic. The RD-180 now throttles back up to its cruise setting of about 87 percent thrust, ramping up to 5.5 g's.
T+02:50 Throttle Down
Throttle down To prepare for the upcoming engine shutdown, the RD-180 is once again throttled down, this time to 47 percent.
T+03:01.3 Booster Engine Cutoff
BECO The RD-180 engine is commanded to cut off once minimum residual propellant is sensed inside the Atlas booster stage.
T+03:07.6 Atlas/Centaur Separation
Atlas separation Six seconds after engine shutdown, the Atlas booster stage separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next 11 seconds, the Centaur liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for engine ignition and the nozzle extensions are deployed.
T+03:18.6 Centaur 1st Main Engine Start
MES-1 MES 1, the longer of the two Centaur firings, begins to inject the upper stage and EchoStar 7 communications satellite into a low altitude parking orbit around Earth.
T+03:36.3 Jettison Payload Fairing
Fairing separation The 14-foot diameter aluminum payload fairing that protected the EchoStar 7 satellite during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.
T+08:49.8 Centaur Main Engine Cutoff
MECO-1 MECO 1 occurs when the single Centaur engine is shut down, with the rocket arriving in a planned parking orbit. The vehicle begins a coast period over the mid-Atlantic before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.
T+22:40.4 Centaur Main Engine Re-start
MES-2 MES 2 occurs over the Atlantic Ocean between the African Ivory Coast and Ascension Island before the rocket passes just north of the equator. The burn accelerates the vehicle and satellite into the required geosynchronous transfer orbit.
T+24:47.9 Centaur Main Engine Cutoff
MECO-2 At the point of MECO 2, the Centaur/EchoStar 7 vehicle should be in the required transfer orbit, completing the powered phase of the launch. The stage then begins aligning to the satellite separation attitude.
T+28:27.9 Spacecraft Separation
Spacecraft separation The EchoStar 7 direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite is released into space from the Centaur upper stage to complete the AC-204 launch -- the maiden flight of Lockheed Martin's Atlas 3B rocket.

Image and data source: International Launch Services and Lockheed Martin Astronautics.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Atlas 3B (AC-204)
Payload: EchoStar 7
Launch date: Feb. 21, 2002
Launch window: 7:13-8:14 a.m. EST (1213-1314 GMT
Launch site: SLC-36B, Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla.
Satellite broadcast: Telstar 6, Trans. 22, C-band

Pre-launch briefing
Launch timeline - Chart with times and descriptions of events to occur during the launch.

Ground track - See the trajectory the rocket will follow during its flight.

Atlas 3B vehicle data - Overview of the rocket to be used in this launch.

The RD-180 - Facts and figures about the Russian-built engine to power Atlas 3.

EchoStar 7 - Description of this direct-to-home TV broadcasting satellite.

Atlas index - A directory of our previous Atlas launch coverage.


Mission Report
Space Shuttle Flights 1-5: The NASA Mission Reports covers the shuttle through its test flight stage and on to the first operational flight. Includes CD-ROM.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Gemini 7
Gemini 7: The NASA Mission Reports covers this 14-day mission by Borman and Lovell as they demonstrated some of the more essential facts of space flight. Includes CD-ROM.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo patches
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars Rover mission patch
A mission patch featuring NASA's Mars Exploration Rover is available from our online.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo 9 DVD
On the road to the moon, the mission of Apollo 9 stands as an important gateway in experience and procedures. This 2-DVD collection presents the crucial mission on the voyage to the moon.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Apollo 12 tribute DVD set

New! Featuring the jovial crew of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 mission was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff but proceeded on the second successful exploration voyage to the lunar surface. This three-disc DVD brings the mission to life with extraordinary detail.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Fallen Heroes special patch
This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Women in Space
Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Mars rover poster
This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Apollo 11 special patch
Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K.

Current Shuttle Mission Patch
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Ares 1-X Patch
The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo Collage
This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE



Project Orion
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
 U.S. STORE


Fallen Heroes Patch Collection
The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Hubble Posters
Stunning posters featuring images from the Hubble Space Telescope and world-renowned astrophotographer David Malin are now available from the Astronomy Now Store.
 U.S. STORE
 U.K. & WORLDWIDE STORE
MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2009 Spaceflight Now Inc.