BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket with the U.S. Air Force's GPS 2R-10 navigation spacecraft. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2003

With a flash of blinding light, a $45 million replacement craft began its thunderous trek toward the U.S. military's Global Positioning System constellation Sunday morning aboard a Boeing Delta 2 rocket. Read our full launch story.

A collection of launch day images is also available in this photo gallery.

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0913 GMT (4:13 a.m. EST)

T+plus 68 minutes, 12 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The U.S. Air Force's NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R-10 spacecraft has been released from the Delta rocket's third stage following launch this morning from Cape Canaveral.

The GPS satellite will boost itself into the GPS constellation in the coming days to begin checkout period by ground controllers. The $45 million craft will fill the Plane E, Slot 2 position in the GPS network. After on-orbit testing, GPS 2R-10, also known as SVN-47, is expected to enter service in the first-half of January.

The new satellite replaces the GPS 2A-10 craft launched on November 26, 1990.

This concludes our live play-by-play coverage of this morning's mission.

0911 GMT (4:11 a.m. EST)

T+plus 66 minutes, 11 seconds. Burnout of the solid-fueled third stage has occurred, completing the powered phase of launch for GPS 2R-10 aboard the Delta 2 rocket. Separation of the payload is about two minutes away.

0910 GMT (4:10 a.m. EST)

T+plus 65 minutes, 15 seconds. Third stage continues to fire.

0909 GMT (4:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 45 seconds. Third stage ignition!

0909 GMT (4:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 17 seconds. The solid-fueled Star 48B third stage has separated from the Delta 2's second stage.

0909 GMT (4:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 5 seconds. Spin up has begun, standing by for confirmation of separation between the second and third stages.

0908 GMT (4:08 a.m. EST)

T+plus 63 minutes, 30 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.

0907 GMT (4:07 a.m. EST)

T+plus 62 minutes, 40 seconds. Second stage engine is up and burning again!

0905 GMT (4:05 a.m. EST)

T+plus 60 minutes. Standing by for restart of the second stage.

0820 GMT (3:20 a.m. EST)

T+plus 15 minutes. The Delta 2 rocket and GPS payload will be coasting for another 42 minutes. So we will pause our coverage during this quiet time. You can see a map of the rocket's track here.

0817 GMT (3:17 a.m. EST)

T+plus 12 minutes. The rocket is coasting until the second stage restarts at about T+plus 62 minutes 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.

0815 GMT (3:15 a.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 43 seconds. SECO 1. Confirmation that the second stage engine has shut down as planned. The Delta 2 rocket with GPS 2R-10 has arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth following launch this morning.

0815 GMT (3:15 a.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 25 seconds. Good chamber pressure reported on the second stage engine.

0815 GMT (3:15 a.m. EST)

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

0814 GMT (3:14 a.m. EST)

T+plus 9 minutes. A smooth flight being reported by Boeing.

0813 GMT (3:13 a.m. EST)

T+plus 8 minutes. Vehicle remains on the proper trajectory and Range track.

0812 GMT (3:12 a.m. EST)

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Data from the rocket is now being relayed through the Antigua tracking station.

0811 GMT (3:11 a.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes. Second stage engine confirms to burn to achieve a low-altitude parking orbit around Earth.

0810 GMT (3:10 a.m. EST)

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

0809 GMT (3:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 40 seconds. The Delta's second stage engine is now up and firing! Good ignition reported.

0809 GMT (3:09 a.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 37 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff confirmed, and the spent stage has been jettisoned.

0808 GMT (3:08 a.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Everything continues to look good. First stage engine continues to fire.

0807 GMT (3:07 a.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.

0806 GMT (3:06 a.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.

0805 GMT (3:05 a.m. EST)

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

0805 GMT (3:05 a.m. EST)

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

0805 GMT (3:05 a.m. EST)

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

0805 GMT (3:05 a.m. EST)

T+plus 20 seconds. The frigid Florida night has been turned to day as the Delta 2 rocket thunders into the sky. The vehicle is currently maneuvering to the proper heading -- an eastward trajectory with a flight azimuth of 110 degrees.

0805 GMT (3:05 a.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket and GPS 2R-10 spacecraft to sustain the U.S. military's Global Positioning System constellation. And the vehicle has cleared the tower at Cape Canaveral's Complex 17A!

0804 GMT (3:04 a.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.

0804 GMT (3:04 a.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.

0803 GMT (3:03 a.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.

0802 GMT (3:02 a.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The GPS 2R-10 spacecraft has been reverified "go" for launch.

0802 GMT (3:02 a.m. EST)

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

0801 GMT (3:01 a.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes, 30 seconds and counting. The Delta 2 rocket's systems are transferring back to internal power for launch. They were placed on external power following the countdown halt earlier.

0801 GMT (3:01 a.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The countdown is underway again for this morning's liftoff. Launch is set for 3:05 a.m. EST, the very end of today's window.

0800 GMT (3:00 a.m. EST)

Standing by for resumption of the count at T-minus 4 minutes.

0800 GMT (3:00 a.m. EST)

Now five minutes from liftoff. The Air Force says the problem was an alarm on the launch vehicle. However, it is not a constraint to launch. Countdown clocks have been reset to T-minus 4 minutes.

0758 GMT (2:58 a.m. EST)

The launch team has been polled. The issue with an alarm has been resolved. All is GO for launch at 3:05 a.m.!

0753 GMT (2:53 a.m. EST)

NEW LAUNCH TIME! Officials are targeting the very end of today's window for another shot at launching the Delta 2 rocket. Liftoff is now set for 3:05 a.m. EST.

0750 GMT (2:50 a.m. EST)

There is no indication yet if launch can be reattempted this morning. The available launch window extends to 3:05 a.m.

0749 GMT (2:49 a.m. EST)

The Boeing launch team is now safing systems after the countdown was halted about 90 seconds before liftoff. Some problem, not yet announced, caused an alarm to go off. That prompted officials to stop the clock.

0748 GMT (2:48 a.m. EST)

HOLD! Countdown has been stopped after an alarm sounded.

0748 GMT (2:48 a.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.

0747 GMT (2:47 a.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 25 seconds. The GPS 2R-10 spacecraft has been declared "go" for launch.

0747 GMT (2:47 a.m. EST)

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

0746 GMT (2:46 a.m. EST)

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

0746 GMT (2:46 a.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The final phase of the countdown is now underway! Launch of the GPS 2R-10 military navigation satellite remains set to occur at 2:50 a.m. EST from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

0745 GMT (2:45 a.m. EST)

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

0744 GMT (2:44 a.m. EST)

The final Air Force poll of management is complete. All remains set for Delta 302 and GPS 2R-10.

0742 GMT (2:42 a.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.

0740 GMT (2:40 a.m. EST)

Now 10 minutes to launch. The countdown is now half-way through this built-in hold. Boeing is not reporting any problems.

0738 GMT (2:38 a.m. EST)

Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo reports conditions are "go" for liftoff today. There are no concerns with Mother Nature.

0736 GMT (2:36 a.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned hold point for this morning'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 2:50 a.m. EST (0750 GMT).

0732 GMT (2:32 a.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.

0730 GMT (2:30 a.m. EST)

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

0726 GMT (2:26 a.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.

0724 GMT (2:24 a.m. EST)

The GPS 2R-10 spacecraft cargo atop the Delta 2 rocket is now switching to internal power for launch.

0722 GMT (2:22 a.m. EST)

The Air Force confirms that all systems remain "go" for launch at 2:50 a.m. EST this morning. There are no issues with the rocket, spacecraft, Range or weather.

0720 GMT (2:20 a.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.

0716 GMT (2:16 a.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 2:20 a.m. EST as planned.

0710 GMT (2:10 a.m. EST)

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

0700 GMT (2:00 a.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 2:50 a.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.

0655 GMT (1:55 a.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.

The second stage steering checks are complete. The first stage tests are underway.

0650 GMT (1:50 a.m. EST)

Liftoff is now just 60 minutes away.

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.

0643 GMT (1:43 a.m. EST)

Good morning from the very chilly Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been loaded as the countdown continues on schedule for this morning's launch. The operation took 27 minutes and 5 seconds today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

Super-cold liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, started pumped into the first stage of the Delta 2 at 1:06 a.m. The liquid oxygen flowed from a storage tank at pad 17A, through plumbing and into the bottom of the rocket. The LOX and the RP-1 kerosene fuel loaded aboard the vehicle in the last half-hour will be consumed by the first stage main engine.

Once the liquid oxygen tank reaches the 95 percent full level at 1:31 a.m., the "rapid load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will continue to fill the tank.

The rocket is now fully fueled for launch. The vehicle's first stage was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel along with the liquid oxygen over the past hour. The second stage was filled with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels a few days ago; the third stage and nine strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.

0537 GMT (12:37 a.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket has been fully loaded for today's planned 2:50 a.m. EST liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The tank was filled with a highly refined kerosene, called RP-1, during a 21-minute, 16-second process that concluded at 12:37:22 a.m. EST.

The next major task in the count will be loading super-cold cryogenic liquid oxygen into the first stage.

We are going to temporarily pause our live updates on the countdown while we re-locate to Cape Canaveral for the launch. Our status reports will resume on this page as soon as possible, hopefully around 1:30 a.m. EST.

Liftoff remains scheduled for 2:50 a.m. EST. There are no technical troubles being reported by Boeing and the ground weather conditions are acceptable for launch this morning. The available launch window in which to get the rocket airborne extends 15 minutes to 3:05 a.m. EST.

Read our earlier Mission Status Center coverage.