BY JUSTIN RAY

November 21, 2000 -- Follow the countdown and launch of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket with the Earth Observing 1, SAC-C and Munin spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2000

Three spacecraft that will study Earth from above were carried aloft Tuesday aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket including one that promises to make future remote sensing satellites faster, better and cheaper. Read our full launch story.

2015:25 GMT (3:15:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 51 minutes. MUNIN SEPARATION! The tiny cube-shaped Munin nanosatellite has been ejected from the second stage of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket to successfully complete today's launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Munin separation occurred southeast of Hawaii near the equator a full orbit after launch.

Named after one of the Nordic God Odin's ravens, Munin was designed and built by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics in cooperation with students at Umea University and Lulea University in Sweden. The goals of the craft include collecting data on space weather and auroral activity in the northern and southern hemispheres, while testing the concept of small satellites operating autonomously in orbit.

1955:25 GMT (2:55:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 31 minutes. SAC-C SEPARATION! The Satelite de Aplicanciones Cientificas-C, or SAC-C, has been released from the Boeing Delta 2 rocket. The craft is joint mission between the Argentine Commission on Space Activities and NASA. Its various onboard instruments and sensors will be used to provide new data in mapping Earth's magnetic field and the interaction with the solar wind. Other objectives will include studies of the ionosphere and geomagnetic field and tracking of an endangered whale using Global Positioning System receivers attached to the whales' backs. Solar array deployment for SAC-C is expected to start in the next four minutes or so.

The next event in the flight will be final burn of the second stage to deplete remain propellant before release of the Swedish Munin payload in about 20 minutes.

1951:25 GMT (2:51:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 27 minutes. The upcoming separation of SAC-C should be visible by the Thule and Poker Flats ground tracking stations.

1950:25 GMT (2:50:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 26 minutes. The third burn by the second stage has been completed. The stage will now position itself for release of the SAC-C satellite about five minutes from now.

1947:25 GMT (2:47:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 23 minutes. The Delta 2 rocket is approaching the Arctic Circle and will soon restart the second stage engine for the next burn. The upcoming 17-second firing will occur over Greenland and adjust the orbit to a target altitude of 369.9 by 380.8 nautical miles inclined 98.28 degrees.

1945:25 GMT (2:45:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 21 minutes. NASA has now confirmed the DPAF did separate as planned.

Meanwhile, EO-1 ground controllers report the craft's power-generating solar array has been deployed.

1938:25 GMT (2:38:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 14 minutes. We are awaiting confirmation that the Dual Payload Attach Fitting, or DPAF, has separated from the Delta 2 rocket's second stage. The Astrium-built structure is making its debut on this launch. It allows two distinctly different satellites to be flown aboard one Delta 2 rocket, a feature NASA paid Boeing to have developed. Originally the EO-1 and SAC-C satellites were to have been launched using a pair of Orbital Sciences Taurus rockets. But with the DPAF system, the two craft could fly together on one rocket. NASA officials say that saved money.

DPAF is basically a cylinder with cone on its top where EO-1 was mounted and inside resides the SAC-C payload. The in-flight separation occurs at the base of barrel-like cylinder as six springs push the structure above and clear of SAC-C.

The total weight of DPAF is 791 pounds, of which 409 pounds accounts for the portion to be separated.

1927:25 GMT (2:27:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 3 minutes. The three-panel solar array of the EO-1 spacecraft should be deploying automatically at this time. Over the next two hours, the satellite is supposed to stablize itself and lock onto the sun to recharge onboard batteries.

Meanwhile, the flight of the Delta 2 rocket continues. The next event will be the jettison of the Dual Payload Attach Fitting enclosing the SAC-C satellite in about 10 minutes.

1925:25 GMT (2:25:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 hour, 1 minute. EO-1 SEPARATION! NASA's Earth Observing-1 spacecraft has been released from the Delta 2 rocket after its launch into polar orbit. The EO-1 satellite features a suite of futuristic remote sensing instruments that will be tested on this mission for possible use by next-generation Landsat satellites for monitoring Earth's environment from space.

1924:25 GMT (2:24:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 60 minutes. The Earth Observing 1 satellite should have separated from the Delta 2 rocket at this time. However, the ground station currently is unable to confirm the event.

1922:55 GMT (2:22:55 p.m. EST)

T+plus 58 minutes, 30 seconds. The orbital data from the rocket's guidance computer shows a good orbit following the latest firing of the second stage with a high point of 381.064 nautical miles, low point of 378.212 nautical miles and inclination of 98.2 degrees.

1920:55 GMT (2:20:55 p.m. EST)

T+plus 56 minutes, 30 seconds. Boeing now reports that rough data indicates the second firing of the second stage has occurred. The stage wull now orient itself in space to prepare for deployment of EO-1 satellite at T+plus 1 hour.

1920:25 GMT (2:20:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 56 minutes. Dropouts in the data is preventing engineers from confirming the burn.

1919:25 GMT (2:19:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 55 minutes. Standing by for ignition of the second stage main engine. This will be a short 11-second burn. The Malindi tracking station in Africa will provide live telemetry coverage of the firing.

1914:25 GMT (2:14:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 50 minutes. The Delta 2 rocket is approaching the southeast coast of Africa on a northward pass in its current orbit. Restart of the second stage engine is upcoming in about five minutes to raise the orbital altitude to about 381 nautical miles, which is desired by the Earth Observing-1 satellite payload.

1838:25 GMT (1:38:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 14 minutes. So the Delta 2 rocket has made an apparently smooth trek to orbit today with the EO-1, SAC-C and Munin spacecraft. But the launch has many milestone yet to come including three more burns by the second stage.

Since there is not much to report during this coast period of the flight, which will last another 40 minutes, we will pause our coverage for the moment.

1836:25 GMT (1:36:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 12 minutes. The rocket is now in a coast period that will last until T+plus 55 minutes, 35 seconds when the second stage engine reignites.

1835:50 GMT (1:35:50 p.m. EST)

T+plus 11 minutes, 25 seconds. SECO 1. Confirmation that the second stage engine has cut off as planned.

1834:25 GMT (1:34:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes. Just over one minute left in the first burn by the second stage. The rocket is headed to a preliminary orbit of 100 by 385 nautical miles high.

1833:25 GMT (1:33:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 9 minutes. The Delta 2 rocket is passing out of range from the Vandenberg tracking station and an airborne telemetry relay plane is now sending data to engineers on the ground. Altitude is 102 miles, downrange distance 839 miles, velocity 13,500 miles per hour.

1831:25 GMT (1:31:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 7 minutes. Rocket continues right down the predicted Range track. Thrust chamber pressure inside the second stage engine reported normal.

1830:25 GMT (1:30:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes. The second stage engine continues to fire normally for this first of several burns planned during the launch.

1829:25 GMT (1:28:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes. The protective nose cone atop the rocket has separated with no recontact detected.

1829:10 GMT (1:29:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 45 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff confirmed, the stage has been jettisoned and second stage engine ignition has occurred.

1828:25 GMT (1:28:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes. Official liftoff time was 1824:25.103 GMT.

1827:25 GMT (1:27:25 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes. Data from the rocket continues to indicate systems are functioning as planned.

1827:00 GMT (1:27:00 p.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 35 seconds. Altitude 21 miles, downrange distance 9 miles, velocity 2,200 miles per hour.

1825:05 GMT (1:25:05 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 40 seconds. All three solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned. The first stage main engine continues to fire. Smooth flight so far.

1825:30 GMT (1:25:20 p.m. EST)

T+plus 65 seconds. The solid rocket motors have burned out as planned. However, the casings will remain attached to the first stage until the Delta 2 clears the oil-drilling rigs off the coast of California.

1825:10 GMT (1:25:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 45 seconds. Solid rocket booster pressures look good. Vehicle has gone transonic, traveling more than 750 miles per hour.

1824:45 GMT (1:24:45 p.m. EST)

T+plus 20 seconds. Vehicle rolling on course as it heads southward away from the Vandenberg Air Force Base.

1824:25 GMT (1:24:25 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with spacecraft from three nations to improve the way we study Earth's environment from space. And the rocket has cleared the tower.

1823:55 GMT (1:23:55 p.m. EST)

T-minus 30 seconds. Hydraulics and electronics reported go.

The launch ignition sequence will begin at T-minus 2 seconds when a Boeing engineer triggers the engine start switch. The process begins with ignition of the two vernier engines and first stage main engine start. The three ground-start solid rocket motors then light at T-0 for liftoff. At launch, the rocket will produce nearly a half-million pounds of thrust.

1823:25 GMT (1:23:25 p.m. EST)

T-minus 1 minute. The Range has given its final clear-to-launch. The Delta 2 rocket's second stage hydraulic pump has gone to internal power after its pressures were verified acceptable. At the telemetry receiving areas where data from the rocket will be transmitted, the data recording charts have gone to high speed as the liftoff nears.

1822:55 GMT (1:22:55 p.m. EST)

T-minus 90 seconds. The launch pad water system is activated.

1822:25 GMT (1:22:25 p.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes. The first stage liquid oxygen vents are now being closed so the LOX tank can be pressurized for launch. Puffs of vapor from a relief valve on the rocket will be seen in the remainder of the countdown as the tank pressure stabilizes.

1821:55 GMT (1:21:55 p.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The final verification has been announced that the EO-1, SAC-C and Munin payloads are "go" for launch.

1821:25 GMT (1:21:25 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes. The safety destruct safe and arm devices are being armed.

This will be a one-hour, 50-minute flight of two-stage Delta 2 rocket. See the timeline for a summary of launch events.

1820:25 GMT (1:20:25 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. Now in the final phase of the countdown as Delta launch vehicle systems begin transferring to internal power. All systems remain ready for an on-time launch today at 1824:25 GMT from Space Launch Complex 2-West at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

1819 GMT (1:19 p.m. EST)

Standing by to resume the countdown in one minute. All systems are go for launch.

1818 GMT (1:18 p.m. EST)

All of the Delta 2 rocket's payloads -- EO-1, SAC-C and Munin -- have been configured for launch. The Earth-research craft are ready for their journey into orbit today to study our home plaet from above.

1816 GMT (1:16 p.m. EST)

The Boeing Launch Conductor has performed his readiness poll of the launch team. Everything still "go" for the launch.

1815:16 GMT (1:15:16 p.m. EST)

Now half-way through this built-in hold at T-minus 4 minutes. Liftoff still set for 1824:25 GMT.

1815 GMT (1:15 p.m. EST)

The satellite cargos atop the Boeing Delta 2 rocket are switching to internal battery power for launch.

1812 GMT (1:12 p.m. EST)

NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale just polled his team and all systems verified "go" for liftoff.

1811 GMT (1:11 p.m. EST)

The latest computer program based upon upper level winds have been uploaded to the Delta 2 rocket's guidance computer. The information tells the computer what wind conditions to expect during the climb to orbit today.

1810:16 GMT (1:10:16 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned hold. This is a planned 10-minute, 9-second hold leading to the instantaneous launch opportunity today at 1824:25 GMT.

During the hold officials will poll the various team members behind the scenes, in the "soft blockhouse", Range Operations Control Center and Mission Directors Center. The final Launch Decision Authority rests with Joy Bryant, the Boeing Mission Director. She will give the approval to launch the Delta rocket with EO-1, SAC-C and Munin spacecraft.

At this point there are no problems being reported and weather conditions remain "go" for launch.

1805 GMT (1:05 p.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank vent is being closed and the tank is being pressurized for launch.

1804:16 GMT (1:04:16 p.m. EST)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting. The countdown is heading to T-minus 4 minutes for a 10-minute, 9-second hold. Liftoff the Boeing Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Canaveral Air Force Station is still slated to occur at 1824:25 GMT with NASA's EO-1 remote sensing technology demonstration satellite, Argentina's SAC-C multi-purpose research spacecraft and the Swedish Munin nanosatellite designed to study space plasma physics.

For this launch, Boeing is using a model 7320-10 Delta 2 rocket. The expendable launch vehicle consists of two stages, three strap-on solid rocket boosters and a 10-foot diameter payload fairing. The rocket stands 126 feet tall. See our rocket fact sheet for more.

1803 GMT (1:03 p.m. EST)

The safety destruct checks have been completed successfully.

1801 GMT (1:01 p.m. EST)

Checks are now under way of the Range Safety command destruct receivers that would be used to destroy the Delta rocket should a problem arise during the launch. Inhibits are in place for this test to ensure the vehicle's destruct system does not fire.

1754:16 GMT (12:54:16 p.m. EST)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are running again following the planned 20-minute hold. The count will continue to the T-minus 4 minute mark where another hold is scheduled. Launch remains set for 1824:25 GMT.

Today's launch will mark the seventh and final flight for Boeing's Delta rocket family in 2000. It will the sixth Delta 2 to launch and the second from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

1750 GMT (12:50 p.m. EST)

The Boeing Launch Conductor has polled the launch team for a "go" to pick up the countdown as planned. No problems were announced. Clocks are set to resume in four minutes.

1744 GMT (12:44 p.m. EST)

Now half-way through this 20-minute built-in hold in the countdown. The communications loops between members of the launch team are pretty quiet at the moment since there nothing much to talk about. There are no technical issues with the rocket or payload to be addressed and the team is simply waiting for the countdown clock to resume.

It is an absolutely beautiful day at Vandenberg Air Force Base where the skies are bright blue and there is a light breeze. It is a bit on the chilly side, though, with temperatures in the mid-50s F.

1741 GMT (12:41 p.m. EST)

NASA Launch Manager Chuck Dovale just polled his team to verify the space agency is "go" to continue with the countdown. No one reported any problems, including the EO-1 and SAC-C team members.

1736 GMT (12:36 p.m. EST)

The Boeing Launch Conductor reports the target liftoff time been tweaked again. The launch is now set for 1824:25 GMT with an instantaneous window, meaning the rocket has just a moment in time to lift off today or else wait until tomorrow.

The countdown hold at T-minus 4 minutes will extended an additional nine seconds to synch up with the new launch time.

1734:16 GMT (12:34:16 p.m. EST)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered into the first of two planned hold periods during the last 20 minutes of the Terminal Count for today's 1824 GMT launch. This pause will last 20 minutes in duration.

These holds are designed to give the launch team a chance to deal with any problems and catch up on work that could be running behind schedule. At this point, the countdown is reported to be going well with no significant technical problems.

Engineers have just completed gimbal checks of the nozzles on the first stage main engine and twin vernier engines and second stage engine. This test is performed to ensure the engines will be able to steer the rocket during launch. Also, the RF link checks have been performed.

1724 GMT (12:24 p.m. EST)

Now exactly one hour from the scheduled liftoff time for the Boeing Delta 2 rocket from Space Launch Complex 2-West at Vandenberg Air Force Base along the central coastline of California. The base is located about 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles. At liftoff, the rocket will head southward on its way to a orbit around Earth's poles. The flight azimuth for today's launch is 196 degrees.

Over the next few minutes, the "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engines will be performed. Also RF link tests between the Range and rocket are scheduled.

1714 GMT (12:14 p.m. EST)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks are continuing to the T-minus 20 minute mark where a 20-minute built-in hold is planned. A final 10-minute hold at T-minus 4 minutes will lead to the target liftoff time of 1824:16 GMT today for the Boeing Delta 2 rocket.

1705 GMT (12:05 p.m. EST)

The Delta rocket is now fully fueled for launch today at 1824 GMT (10:24 a.m. PST; 1:24 p.m. EST) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to deliver the Earth Observing-1, SAC-C and Munin satellite payloads into space.

The vehicle's first stage was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen this morning. The second stage was loaded with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels on Sunday; and the three strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.

There are no technical problems being reported by the launch team, the weather forecast looks promising and the countdown remains on schedule.

1704 GMT (12:04 p.m. EST)

The Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been topped off at 100 percent. The tank will be replenished through the remainder of the countdown to replace the liquid oxygen that naturally boils away. It took 23 minutes, 38 seconds to load the LOX tank today, an operation completed at 1604:23 GMT.

The latest update on the weather indicates a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions today. The only slight concern is thick high-level clouds.

1701 GMT (12:01 p.m. EST)

The launch team reports pressurization of the second stage helium and nitrogen systems and fuel tanks has been completed as the countdown continues to proceed on schedule for liftoff at 1824 GMT today.

1658 GMT (11:58 a.m. EST)

First stage liquid oxygen tanking continues smoothly. The "rapid load" phase of filling the tank will continue to the 95-percent level before the slower "fine load" takes over to reach the 99-percent mark.

1648 GMT (11:48 a.m. EST)

Activities to turn on the Delta rocket's guidance computer (known as RIFCA) have been completed.

1647 GMT (11:47 a.m. EST)

Now seven minutes into this approximate 25-minute process to fill the first stage liquid oxygen tank.

1642 GMT (11:42 a.m. EST)

Gaseous oxygen now venting from a valve in center of the rocket. Over the next few minutes, the first stage will become covered with a light coating of frost and ice as the super-cold liquid oxygen is loaded aboard.

1641 GMT (11:41 a.m. EST)

Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, is now flowing from a 28,000-gallon storage tank at Space Launch Complex 2-West, through plumbing and into the bottom of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket. The LOX will be consumed by the first stage main engine along with RP-1 kerosene loaded aboard the vehicle over the past hour.

1635 GMT (11:35 a.m. EST)

The launch team has been given a "go" to begin loading liquid oxygen into the Delta 2's first stage, the final step in fueling the two-stage rocket for flight.

1632 GMT (11:32 a.m. EST)

Checks of the rocket's C-band beacon have been completed. The interrogation ensures this beacon is strong and working properly so the vehicle can be tracked during flight.

1614 GMT (11:14 a.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket has been fully loaded for today's planned 1824 GMT liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The tank was loaded with 9,950 gallons of a highly refined kerosene, called RP-1, during a 19-minute, 55-second process today that concluded at 1613:45 GMT.

The next major task in the countdown will be loading super-cold cryogenic liquid oxygen into the first stage starting at about 1639 GMT.

Meanwhile, the Flight Hazard Area has been verified clear by Range Safety.

1610 GMT (11:10 a.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank has been loaded with 9,000 gallons so far. Once the tank is filled with 9,750 gallons, or 98 percent, the "rapid load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will top off the tank to 9,950 gallons for launch.

1608 GMT (11:08 a.m. EST)

The launch team has computed that the full load for the first stage fuel tank is 9,950 gallons. Over 6,000 gallons are already aboard.

1603 GMT (11:03 a.m. EST)

5,000 gallons of RP-1 fuel has been pumped into the first stage, about half of the propellant that will fill the tank.

Meanwhile, the first stage helium and nitrogen systems have been pressurized for flight. Similar work on the second stage is still to be completed.

1558 GMT (10:58 a.m. EST)

Now five minutes into this approximate 20-minute process to load the rocket's first stage with about 10,000 gallons of refined kerosene. Called RP-1, the propellant will be guzzled along with liquid oxygen (to be pumped into the rocket a little later this morning) by the first stage Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters during the initial four-and-a-half-minutes of flight.

1553 GMT (10:53 a.m. EST)

Fueling of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage is now underway. Nearly 10,000 gallons of a highly refined kerosene fuel, called RP-1, will be pumped into the rocket from a 15,000-gallon storage tank at the Space Launch Complex 2-West pad.

Initially it was reported today that the fueling had been completed prior to mobile service tower retraction. However, that was based upon an erroneous statement by a Boeing spokesperson.

1542 GMT (10:42 a.m. EST)

With the launch pad now clear of all workers, the launch team is beginning to pressurize the helium and nitrogen systems of the Delta 2 rocket's first and second stages.

1529 GMT (10:29 a.m. EST)

The Delta 2 rocket's brain -- the Redunant Inertial Flight Control Assembly -- is being turned on at this time and configured for launch. The RIFCA computer controls the vehicle during flight.

The Launch Conductor has announced a slight tweak to today's launch time from what had been advertised previously by NASA. The precise liftoff time is 1824:16 GMT (five seconds earlier than originally). The window extends 10 seconds.

1524:16 GMT (10:24:16 a.m. EST)

The Terminal Count has started for today's launch of Boeing Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA's Earth Observing-1 spacecraft, the Argentine SAC-C satellite and the Swedish Munin nanosatellite.

The countdown is being controlled from the "soft blockhouse" located about 8 miles from the Space Launch Complex-2 West pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Senior launch officials are stationed in the Mission Directors Center inside the Kennedy Space Center Resident Office located at South Vandenberg, a good distance from the pad.

With the countdown underway, the activities planned over the next hour include clearing the hazard danger area, activating the rocket's guidance computer, pressurizing the first and second stage helium and nitrogen systems and second stage fuel tanks and checking the C-band tracking beacon on the rocket.

1518 GMT (10:18 a.m. EST)

The Boeing Launch Conductor has polled his team to ensure all members of the launch team are on console and are "go" to begin the Terminal Count for today's flight of the Delta 2 rocket. No significant problems were reported and countdown clocks are set to start ticking at 1524 GMT from T-minus 150 minutes. There are two planned hold at at T-minus 20 and T-minus 4 minutes. Liftoff remains set for 1824 GMT today.

At the SLC-2West pad, technicians have completed securing the mount and arming the vehicle. Final setup of the gaseous nitrogen and air conditioning purges is underway currently.

1509 GMT (10:09 a.m. EST)

The entire launch team is on station at Vandenberg Air Force Base in advance of picking up the terminal countdown in 15 minutes. A readiness poll of the team will be performed at 1514 GMT to verify everyone is ready to start the countdown.

1400 GMT (9:00 a.m. EST)

The final hours are ticking away at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where a Boeing-made Delta 2 rocket is awaiting liftoff on a flight to haul three satellites into orbit around Earth's poles. The launch remains set for 1824 GMT (10:24 a.m. PST; 1:24 p.m. EST).

Overnight, the 177-foot tall mobile service tower was wheeled back from around the rocket and the fully assembled Delta 2 was displayed. The gantry is used to stack the vehicle and provides the primary weather protection and access to the rocket during its stay on the oceanside complex.

The Terminal Count is scheduled to begin at 1524 GMT (7:24 a.m. PST; 10:24 a.m. EST).

0501 GMT (12:01 a.m. EST)

A stripped-down version of Boeing's workhouse Delta 2 rocket is set to fly Tuesday from the Central Coast of California with American, Argentine and Swedish satellites onboard that will study planet Earth from space.

The launch team will have just a handful of seconds to get the two-stage rocket airborne from its pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Liftoff is planned for precisely 1824:21 GMT (10:24:21 a.m. local time; 1:24:21 p.m. EST) so one of the payloads can hit a keyhole in space.

Dictating the launch time is NASA's Earth Observing-1. The craft is a testbed for futuristic technologies that could be used by next-generation remote sensing satellites.

EO-1 will fly in formation with the Landsat 7 satellite launched in April 1999 to jointly observe the Earth below. The pictures from EO-1 will be directly compared with those from Landsat 7, giving scientists the chance to evaulate the suite of futuristic instruments before they are employed in operational missions down the road.

The co-passenger aboard the Delta 2 is the Argentine Satelite de Aplicanciones Cientificas-C spacecraft. SAC-C carries nearly a dozen instruments for a variety research objectives including the study of Earth's atmosphere, ionosphere and geomagnetic field and even the migration of an endangered whale.

A secondary payload -- the Munin nanosatellite -- will be deployed from the rocket after the two primary satellites are released.

We will provide live coverage of the launch starting three hours before liftoff time as the Terminal Count begins.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2000
2200 GMT (5:00 p.m. EST)

The final "go for launch" has been given for a Boeing Delta 2 rocket with satellites for NASA, Argentina and Sweden. Senior officials granted the clearance to proceed with the Tuesday launch during a meeting today at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The weather forecast continues to look perfect and there are no technical problems being addressed.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2000
2000 GMT (3:00 p.m. EST)

Storable fuel is being pumped aboard the Boeing Delta 2 rocket's second stage today at the SLC-2 West launch pad as technicians ready the booster for its flight Tuesday.

The Launch Readiness Review is on tap Monday at Vandenberg Air Force Base to give the final approval to proceed towards the scheduled 1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST; 10:24 a.m. PST) liftoff.

The latest weather prediction for Tuesday has improved to a perfect forecast. Air Force meteorologists are now calling for a 100 percent chance of acceptable conditions. Launch Weather Officer Lt. Scott Lisko gave this overview today:

"Central California is currently dominated by a high pressure ridge bringing clear, dry weather to the region. This pattern will continue until late Monday night, when an upper-level low pressure system moves in from the Pacific. This system will primarily be a concern on Wednesday, as an area of low-level moisture moves into the Central Coast region.

"Vandenberg AFB will have partly cloudy skies for launch day, with morning temperatures in the mid-50's. Surface winds will be light and from the north-northwest. Upper level winds will be from the west-northwest at 55-70 knots.

"24 hour scrub weather will be less favorable, as cloudiness increases for the Central Coast. Low-level stratocumulus clouds are expected, causing the Thick Cloud Layer and Cumulus Avoidance constraints to be areas of concern. Upper level winds will remain from the northwest, intensifying to 65-85 knots."

Conditions are predicted to include a few clouds at 500 and 20,000 feet, unrestricted visibility, northerly winds 6 to 10 knots and a temperature of 54 to 57 degrees F.

The weather on Wednesday will deteriorate some with a 20 percent chance conditions would prohibit liftoff due to layered and cumulus clouds, should the launch be postponed on Tuesday for some reason.

0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST Sat.)

The Boeing Delta 2 rocket's guidance computer was given a clean bill of health by engineers late Saturday, clearing the way the for blastoff Tuesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The rocket is carrying NASA's Earth Observing 1 technology demonstration satellite, the joint NASA/Argentine Satelite de Aplicanciones Cientificas-C (SAC-C) spacecraft and the Munin nanosatellite from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics.

The launch had been pushed back two days so paperwork documenting the computer's pre-flight testing could be sorted through. The papers were found to have discrepancies that Boeing and NASA needed to understand to ensure the so-called Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly, or RIFCA, would function properly to control the Delta 2 during the launch.

That paper chase was finally completed a short time ago with officials coming to the conclusion there was nothing wrong with the RIFCA. "We have reviewed all the data and verified the RIFCA on the vehicle is perfectly fine," NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham said.

Technicians will begin the 12-hour process of loading the rocket's second stage with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels early Sunday morning at the Space Launch Complex 2-West pad.

The weather forecast for the 1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST; 10:24 a.m. PST) launch time on Tuesday is calling for a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions. The only threat is a slight possibility of layered clouds. Launch Weather Officer Lt. Scott Lisko gave this overview on Saturday afternoon:

"The Central Coast is currently dominated by a high pressure ridge, bringing clear, dry weather to the region. This pattern will continue until late Monday night, when a low pressure trough moves in from the Pacific, bringing mid-level cloudiness into the central California area for Tuesday morning.

"Vandenberg AFB will have partly cloudy skies for launch day, causing the Thick Cloud Layer constraint to be a minor area of concern. Temperatures will be in the mid-50's for launch time, with light winds from the northeast.

"24 hour scrub weather will be much the same, with the low pressure system still in the Central Coast area. Layered Clouds remain a minor concern, with temperatures again in the mid-50's. Surface winds will shift to the east, but remain light."

Conditions are predicted to include a few clouds at 7,000 and 20,000 feet, unrestricted visibility, northeasterly winds 6 to 10 knots and a temperature of 54 to 57 degrees F.

Should the launch slip to Wednesday for some reason the weather forecast remains the same.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2000
0050 GMT (7:50 p.m. EST Fri.)

LAUNCH DELAYED AGAIN. Officials were unable to complete a review of testing records for the Boeing Delta 2 rocket's guidance computer on Friday, causing the launch to be postponed until no earlier than Tuesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It is the third delay in as many days for this launch, which will carry research satellites into space.

"We are going to need some more time to look through the papers," NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham said.

The documents contain data from the rocket's Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly, or RIFCA, that was collected during pre-flight tests. There have been inconsistences in the paperwork, which Boeing and NASA want to resolve before committing the rocket to flight.

Engineers will spend Saturday continuing their efforts to reconstruct the data before a scheduled presentation to senior officials at 4 p.m. local time (7 p.m. EST; 0000 GMT).

Fueling of the rocket's second stage remains on hold and won't begin until Sunday, pending approval of the Tuesday launch date.

Weather forecasters are predicting an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions on Tuesday for liftoff at 1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST; 10:24 a.m. PST). The concerns will be layered clouds and breezy ground winds as a low pressure system moves into the Central California area.

NASA officials say that all days but Friday next week are available launch opportunities, including Thanksgiving Day on Thursday. Orbital mechanics would prevent a Friday liftoff.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2000
0315 GMT (10:15 p.m. EST Thurs.)

The upcoming launch of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket on a mission for NASA has been delayed until Monday after officials determined more time was needed to clear up questions with documents related to the booster's guidance computer. Liftoff from the SLC-2W pad at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, is planned for 1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST; 10:24 a.m. PST).

Concerns with discrepancies in paperwork tracing the history of the Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly, or RIFCA, computer caused the 24-hour postponement. NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham said there was not enough time to perform an independent review of the records and still meet the Sunday launch opportunity.

The RIFCA is the Delta 2 rocket's computer brain, controlling the vehicle during the entire launch. The unit is built for Boeing by L3 Communications Space & Navigation (formerly AlliedSignal Aerospace).

With the decision to delay the launch coming when it did, the significant milestone of fueling the rocket's second stage has not yet occurred. The stage's fuel and oxidizer tanks can remain loaded for only a set period of time. In addition, should the RIFCA computer have to replaced, officials won't want the hazardous fuels to be loaded aboard since the computer is mounted to the stage. For now, however, there is no reason to believe the RIFCA will have to be replaced.

Meanwhile, the dust contamination on the Earth Observing-1 satellite payload and the rocket's nose cone has been cleaned. The shroud was reinstalled atop the rocket on Thursday.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2000
2355 GMT (6:55 p.m. EST)

LAUNCH DELAYED. Boeing and NASA have decided to again postpone the launch of a Delta 2 rocket with Earth Observing-1, SAC-C and Munin satellites. The latest concern involves the rocket's guidance computer. Liftoff is now set for no earlier than Monday at 1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST; 10:24 a.m. PST). Further details to follow later tonight.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2000
2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST)

Technicians at Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 2-West pad are cleaning NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite and the Delta 2 rocket's nose cone after slight contamination was discovered. The extra work has delayed the planned launch date by one day to Sunday at 1824:21 GMT (1:24:21 p.m. EST; 10:24:21 a.m. PST).

Boeing says that contamination was found inside the clean room of the pad's mobile service tower on Tuesday while workers were closing up the rocket's nose cone for launch. Officials became concerned that the technology demonstration satellite could have been contaminated before the two-piece nose cone was installed on Monday.

The 10-foot diameter fairing was removed overnight to allow inspections of EO-1. Those inspections did reveal a few particles on the satellite, which are now being cleaned along with the interior of the nose cone. Once the cleaning work is completed, the fairing will be reinstalled and routine processing allowed to resume for launch.

The early weather forecast is calling for a perfect conditions in Central California on Sunday. There is a 100 percent chance of acceptable weather with clear skies, unrestricted visbility, light winds and a temperature in the 50s F.

1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST)

Launch of the Delta 2 rocket has been postponed by one day to Sunday. Details to follow.

0501 GMT (12:01 a.m. EST)

Three research satellites are packed atop a Boeing Delta 2 rocket for launch on Saturday from California, but the booster's nose cone is undergoing last-minute contamination inspections before officials will clear the way to blastoff.

The two halves of the 10-foot diameter payload fairing were installed on the rocket Monday only to have managers raise questions about the risk of contamination to one of the satellites a day later. Technicians were slated to remove the fairing Tuesday night at Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 2-West pad for the additional inspections. Officials have called an 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT) meeting today to discuss results of the inspections and determine whether further work is needed before launch.

NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham said late Tuesday that if no contamination was found officials would press ahead with the planned Saturday launch date. However, if a problem was uncovered in the inspections, there could be a delay of at least a day or two.

The exact nature of the possible contamination was not immediately known.

For now, liftoff is scheduled to occur at precisely 1824:21 GMT (1:24:21 p.m. EST; 10:24:21 a.m. PST), the opening of a scant 22-second window. The Delta 2 will haul into orbit NASA's Earth Observing-1 technology demonstration satellite, the joint NASA/Argentine Satelite de Aplicanciones Cientificas-C (SAC-C) spacecraft and the Munin nanosatellite from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics.

This will mark the first flight of the Astrium-built Dual Payload Attach Fitting -- a system similar to one used by the European Ariane 4 rocket to launch two large satellites at one time. The EO-1 satellite is mounted atop the so-called DPAF and SAC-C is enclosed within the structure's barrel-like cylinder. After EO-1 is deployed an hour into flight, the DPAF will be jettisoned to allow SAC-C to be released from the Delta rocket's second stage. The tiny Munin craft is mounted directly to the second stage.