BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with the U.S. Air Force's GPS 2R-9 navigation spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

Video coverage for subscribers only:
   VIDEO: THE DELTA 2 ROCKET LAUNCHES WITH GPS 2R-9 QT
   VIDEO: ALTERNATE VIEW OF LIFTOFF FROM NORTH OF PAD QT
   VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH LAUNCH SQUADRON COMMANDER QT
   VIDEO: INSIGHT ABOUT GPS FROM GULF WAR VETERAN QT
   VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH COMMENTS FROM BLS PRESIDENT QT
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MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2003

A new satellite to replenish the U.S. military's preeminent space-based navigation network roared off the planet Monday, destined to circle 11,000 miles above the globe to guide soldiers in the battlefield and civilians around the world. Read our full story.

2342 GMT (6:42 p.m. EST)

Boeing has announced that ground controllers have acquired the signal from the GPS 2R-9 spacecraft launched today.

2317 GMT (6:17 p.m. EST)

T+plus 68 minutes, 17 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The U.S. Air Force's NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R-9 spacecraft has been released from the Delta rocket's third stage following launch today from Cape Canaveral. Liftoff occurred at 5:09 p.m. EST, 15 minutes late due to a pair of Range-related issues.

The GPS satellite will boost itself into the GPS constellation in the coming days to begin an accelerated checkout period by ground controllers. The craft should begin providing navigation signals to users around the world in less than a month, if all goes well. It will replace an aging GPS craft launched aboard another Delta 2 in December 1989.

Check back later today for a full wrap-up story on this launch, plus movie clips and photos.

2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)

T+plus 66 minutes, 14 seconds. Burnout of the solid-fueled third stage has occurred, completing the powered phase of launch for GPS 2R-9 aboard the Delta 2 rocket. Separation of the payload is about two minutes away.

2314 GMT (6:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 65 minutes, 7 seconds. Smooth burn is being reported.

2313 GMT (6:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 50 seconds. Third stage ignition! Good thrust reported.

2313 GMT (6:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 14 seconds. The solid-fueled Star 48B third stage has separated from the Delta 2's second stage.

2313 GMT (6:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 7 seconds. Spin up has begun, standing by for confirmation of separation between the second and third stages.

2312 GMT (6:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 63 minutes, 18 seconds. SECO 2. The liquid-fueled Aerojet AJ10-118K engine has fired, raising the orbital altitude as GPS continues its ride on the Boeing Delta 2 rocket.

2311 GMT (6:11 p.m. EST)

T+plus 62 minutes, 40 seconds. Second stage engine is up and burning again! The Air Force's Guam tracking site is following the rocket.

2309 GMT (6:09 p.m. EST)

T+plus 60 minutes. Live data via the Guam station should acquire the Delta 2 rocket's signal shortly.

2259 GMT (5:59 p.m. EST)

T+plus 50 minutes. The vehicle is currently cruising to the west of Australia on a course that will take it out over the Pacific in the next half-hour. For a map of today's launch, click here.

2249 GMT (5:49 p.m. EST)

T+plus 40 minutes. At this point in the flight the Delta 2 rocket should still be in the thermal conditioning roll maneuver. That coast phase roll is scheduled to end at T+plus 55 minutes, 40 seconds.

Restart of the second stage engine occurs at T+plus 62 minutes, 31 seconds and will last for about 40 seconds. That will be followed by separation between the second and third stages, the firing of that third stage and then deployment of GPS 2R-9 to complete the mission at T+plus 68 minutes, 1 second.

2235 GMT (5:35 p.m. EST)

T+plus 26 minutes, 30 seconds. Delta 2 is now moving beyond the coverage zone of Ascension. The rocket will be out of contact with any tracking sites until it moves over the Guam station in about 36 minutes.

2231 GMT (5:31 p.m. EST)

T+plus 22 minutes. Engineers say there isn't much to report from the data. All appears normal as the vehicle coasts over the Central Atlantic.

2229 GMT (5:29 p.m. EST)

T+plus 20 minutes. The rocket has passed within range of the Ascension Island tracking station. This allows the launch team back at the Cape to receive live data from the rocket to assess its health. The rocket is currently in a thermal conditioning roll during this coast. Boeing says the roll rates look normal.

2226 GMT (5:26 p.m. EST)

T+plus 17 minutes. The official Range liftoff time was 5:09:00.850 p.m. EST.

2224 GMT (5:24 p.m. EST)

T+plus 15 minutes. The rocket has passed out of range from the Antigua tracking station. The next site to pick up the rocket's signal will be Ascension Island in a few minutes.

2223 GMT (5:23 p.m. EST)

T+plus 14 minutes. This preliminary orbit achieved has an apogee of 106.29 miles and perigee of 93.9 miles and inclination of 36.8 degrees to the equator. Those parameters appear right on target.

2221 GMT (5:21 p.m. EST)

T+plus 12 minutes. The rocket is coasting until the second stage restarts at T+plus 62 minutes, 31 seconds for a brief firing to raise the orbit. That will be followed by separation between the second and third stages. The upper stage will burn to inject GPS into the intended transfer orbit. Deployment of the payload to complete the launch is expected at T+plus 68 minutes, 1 second.

2219 GMT (5:19 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 51 seconds. SECO 1. Confirmation that the second stage engine has shut down as planned. The Delta 2 rocket with GPS 2R-9 has arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth following launch this afternoon.

2219 GMT (5:19 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes. Just under a minute remaining in this first firing of the second stage engine.

2218 GMT (5:18 p.m. EST)

T+plus 9 minutes. A smooth flight being reported by Boeing. Batteries reported healthy. Second stage still firing. Data is being relayed through the Antigua tracking station.

2217 GMT (5:17 p.m. EST)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. Altitude 96 miles, downrange distance 1,050 miles, velocity 14,700 miles per hour.

2216 GMT (5:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 7 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 94 miles, downrange distance 920 miles, velocity 14,300 miles per hour.

2215 GMT (5:15 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 88 miles, downrange distance 715 miles, velocity 13,600 miles per hour.

2215 GMT (5:15 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. Good chamber pressure reported on the second stage engine.

2214 GMT (5:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 80 miles, downrange distance 540 miles, velocity 13,000 miles per hour.

2214 GMT (5:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 25 seconds. Second stage engine is burning normally.

2214 GMT (5:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 1 seconds. The protective payload fairing enclosing the GPS satellite atop the rocket has separated.

2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 45 seconds. Second stage engine ignition has been confirmed.

2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 36 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff confirmed, and the spent stage has been jettisoned.

2212 GMT (5:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Good data being reported from the rocket via the TEL-4 tracking station at the Cape. First stage engine continues to fire.

2212 GMT (5:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes. Altitude 37 miles, downrange distance 108 miles, speed 6,300 miles per hour.

2211 GMT (5:11 p.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The three air-start solid rocket boosters have burned out and separated. The rocket continues its trek to orbit on the power of the first stage liquid-fueled main engine.

2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 50 seconds. Altitude 19 miles, downrange distance 27 miles, speed 3,500 miles per hour.

2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 25 seconds. The air-start solid motors are building up to maximum thrust.

2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 10 seconds. All six ground-start solid rocket boosters have burned out and separated. The three remaining motors strapped to first stage have ignited to continue assisting the rocket's RS-27A main engine on the climb to space.

2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)

T+plus 56 seconds. Vehicle has passed maximum dynamic pressure.

2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)

T+plus 33 seconds. Vehicle is now traveling faster than the speed of sound.

2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)

T+plus 30 seconds. Solid rocket motors have passed the period of maximum thrust.

2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)

T+plus 20 seconds. Delta 297 has maneuvered on to course -- heading eastward away from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on a flight azimuth of 110 degrees.

2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket launching a tactical navigation satellite to aid U.S. military forces deployed around the world. And the vehicle has cleared the tower!

2208 GMT (5:08 p.m. EST)

T-minus 30 seconds. Hydraulics and electronics status checks are 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 six ground-lit solid rocket motors then light at T-0 for liftoff.

2208 GMT (5:08 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.

2207 GMT (5:07 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.

2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 25 seconds. The GPS 2R-9 spacecraft has been declared "go" for launch.

2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The rocket's third stage safety destruct safe and arm devices are being armed.

2205 GMT (5:05 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes, 40 seconds and counting. The Delta 2 rocket's systems are now transferring to internal power for launch.

2205 GMT (5:05 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The final phase of the countdown has commenced! Launch of the GPS 2R-9 military navigation satellite remains set to occur at 5:09 p.m. EST from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. No problems are standing in the way of the 297th Delta rocket launch.

2204 GMT (5:04 p.m. EST)

Now five minutes from launch! Standing by for release of the hold in one minute.

2203 GMT (5:03 p.m. EST)

Boeing Mission Director Rich Murphy has verified all is in readiness for liftoff at 5:09 p.m. EST.

2202 GMT (5:02 p.m. EST)

The Air Force has completed its final readiness poll. Everyone announced "go" status, including the Range. All issues have been resolved!

2200 GMT (5:00 p.m. EST)

The plan is to resume the countdown at 5:05 p.m. EST from the T-minus 4 minute mark. If the Range remains "no go" for launch, a hold will be called by the T-minus 80 second point,

2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)

NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff is being targeted for 5:09 p.m. EST -- the end of today's available launch window.

2156 GMT (4:56 p.m. EST)

Boeing says the Range has been dealing with two issues -- a plane in the restricted airspace around the Cape and a hardware problem. The plane has been moved out of the area. However, troubleshooting with the Range Safety equipment is underway.

2153 GMT (4:53 p.m. EST)

No further details on the Range problem have been announced. Countdown clocks remain in the T-minus 4 minute hold.

2150 GMT (4:50 p.m. EST)

Boeing spokesman Brian Nelson says the Range problem is mechanical in nature. Today's available launch window extends to 5:09 p.m. EST.

2149 GMT (4:49 p.m. EST)

The Range is reporting a problem now. So the countdown remains holding at T-minus 4 minutes. No estimate on a new liftoff time.

2149 GMT (4:49 p.m. EST)

Hold extended.

2146 GMT (4:46 p.m. EST)

The launch team has been polled by the Boeing Launch Conductor for a "go" to proceed with the countdown. No problems were reported. The team is now receiving final instructions on countdown procedures.

2145 GMT (4:45 p.m. EST)

The countdown is now half-way through this built-in hold. Boeing is not reporting any issues that threaten today's 4:54 p.m. EST liftoff of Delta 2 and GPS 2R-9.

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo reports conditions are "go" for liftoff today. Upper level winds appear to be cooperating for launch time, too.

2140 GMT (4:40 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned hold point for today's launch attempt. During this planned 10-minute hold, officials will poll the various team members in the soft blockhouse, Range Operations Control Center and Mission Directors Center. If all systems are go, the countdown will resume for liftoff at 4:54 p.m. EST (2154 GMT).

2136 GMT (4:36 p.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank vent is being closed and the tank is being pressurized for launch. And the spacecraft safe and arm devices have been armed.

2134 GMT (4:34 p.m. EST)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting. GPS 2R-9 is now reported to be on internal battery power for flight.

2132 GMT (4:32 p.m. EST)

Inhibited checks are now beginning for the Range Safety command destruct receivers that would be used in destroying the Delta rocket should the vehicle veer off course and malfunction during the launch.

2129 GMT (4:29 p.m. EST)

The GPS 2R-9 spacecraft cargo atop the Delta 2 rocket is now switching to internal power for launch.

2124 GMT (4:24 p.m. EST)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The planned hold in the countdown has been released. Clocks will now tick down to T-minus 4 minutes where the final hold is planned.

2120 GMT (4:20 p.m. EST)

The Boeing and Air Force readiness polls of the launch team have been completed. No technical problems were reported. So the "go" was given to resume the countdown at 4:24 p.m. EST as planned.

2114 GMT (4:14 p.m. EST)

Now half-way through this built-in hold at T-minus 20 minutes.

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the 20-minute built-in hold. This pause is designed to give the launch team a chance to work any problems or catch up on activities that might be running behind schedule. Engineers will also have time to examine all the date from the just-completed steering tests. Launch is slated for 4:54 p.m. EST from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

In the past couple of minutes, gimbal checks of the nozzles on the Delta 2 first and stage engines have been completed.

2059 GMT (3:59 p.m. EST)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. The countdown is nearing a planned 20-minute built-in hold at the T-minus 20 minute mark. Another hold is scheduled at T-minus 4 minutes for 10 minutes in duration.

2054 GMT (3:54 p.m. EST)

Liftoff is now just 60 minutes away. Ground and upper level wind conditions are the only worries being reported.

The launch team will soon begin the "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engines. These are gimbal tests of the nozzles on the first stage main engine and twin vernier engines and second stage engine to ensure the rocket will be able to steer itself during launch.

And in the next few minutes, RF link tests between the Range and rocket are scheduled.

Read our earlier Mission Status Center coverage.