BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the preparations and maiden launch of Boeing's Delta 4 rocket carrying the Eutelsat W5 communications satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2002

The era of Boeing's next-generation rocket family was launched with success Wednesday as the maiden Delta 4 powered its way into Earth orbit to deploy a European-made communications satellite. Read our full story.

2325 GMT (6:25 p.m. EST)

We'll take a break at this point. Check back tonight for complete wrap-up coverage, including video clips, pictures and story.

2321 GMT (6:21 p.m. EST)

"This is a new day. We, Boeing, have proved something to the industry here tonight. Delta 4 is going to be around for a long time," Will Trafton, Boeing Launch Services president, just said.

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

Applause has erupted across the Cape and across The Boeing Company as the Delta 4 rocket deployed its satellite cargo into a good geosychronous transfer orbit.

2316 GMT (6:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 37 minutes, 46 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The Eutelsat's W5 communications spacecraft has been released from the Delta 4 rocket's upper stage, completing this inaugural flight of Boeing's next-generation launcher!

2316 GMT (6:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 37 minutes, 24 seconds. The stage is spinning up like a top in preparation for satellite deployment.

2316 GMT (6:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 37 minutes. Vehicle appears in good shape for the coast.

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

T+plus 36 minutes, 32 seconds. Diego Garcia is now relaying data from the rocket back to the Cape.

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

T+plus 34 minutes, 45 seconds. No data is available through Hartebeesthoek. The next station to aquire is to be Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean shortly.

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

T+plus 33 minutes, 30 seconds. Still waiting for Hartebeesthoek to lock to the rocket's signal.

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

T+plus 32 minutes, 30 seconds. The next tracking site to aquire will be Hartebeesthoek in South Africa.

2310 GMT (6:10 p.m. EST)

T+plus 31 minutes, 30 seconds. The vehicle has passed out of range from the Ascension Island tracking station. Spacecraft separation to conclude this launch is upcoming at about T+plus 37 minutes, 36 seconds.

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

T+plus 30 minutes, 30 seconds. The good geosynchronous transfer orbit has achieved by the Delta 4 rocket. Data shows an apogee of 19,397.3 nautical miles, perigee of 290.3 nautical miles and inclination of 13.49 degrees.

2307 GMT (6:07 p.m. EST)

T+plus 28 minutes, 28 seconds. SECO 2. The second firing of the upper stage has concluded. The powered phase of the Delta 4's mission to loft W5 has been completed.

2306 GMT (6:06 p.m. EST)

T+plus 27 minutes, 30 seconds. About one minute left in this burn. No problems reported.

2305 GMT (6:05 p.m. EST)

T+plus 26 minutes. RL-10 chamber pressure verified normal as the powerplant continues to fire, raising the high point of the orbit.

2304 GMT (6:04 p.m. EST)

T+plus 25 minutes, 10 seconds. Good data still being received.

2303 GMT (6:03 p.m. EST)

T+plus 24 minutes, 20 seconds. Engine systems working well. Good chamber pressure reported.

2302 GMT (6:02 p.m. EST)

T+plus 23 minutes, 38 seconds. The Pratt & Whitney RL-10B-2 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine has been reignited to finish the job of boosting the W5 satellite into the intended orbit. This will be a five-minute firing.

2302 GMT (6:02 p.m. EST)

T+plus 23 minutes, 30 seconds. Hydrogen and oxygen pre-start activities have started.

2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EST)

T+plus 21 minutes, 30 seconds. Restart of the RL-10B-2 engine is about two minutes away.

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

T+plus 20 minutes, 30 seconds. Ascension has locked to the rocket's signal. Normal coast mode reported.

2258 GMT (5:58 p.m. EST)

T+plus 19 minutes. The upper stage should have maneuvered itself into the proper attitude for restart by this point. However, the vehicle is out of range from any ground station and the maneuver can't be confirmed in real-time.

2257 GMT (5:57 p.m. EST)

T+plus 18 minutes. The official Range liftoff time was 5:39:00.270 p.m. EST.

2256 GMT (5:56 p.m. EST)

T+plus 17 minutes. The vehicle has passed out of range from the Antigua tracking station. The next live telemetry will come via tracking station on Ascension Island to cover the final burn of the upper stage.

Boeing did report an acuator system on the upper stage switched to its backup during launch. No impact was indicated. Also, some roll bias was reported before SECO 1, which was handled by the stage's control thrusters.

2254 GMT (5:54 p.m. EST)

T+plus 15 minutes, 30 seconds. The orbit achieved has a high point of 321.8 nautical miles, low point of 100.3 nautical miles and inclination of 27.28 degrees to the equator. All parameters are right as planned.

2253 GMT (5:53 p.m. EST)

T+plus 14 minutes, 30 seconds. A good orbit is being reported by Boeing.

2252 GMT (5:52 p.m. EST)

T+plus 13 minutes, 40 seconds. "We've made it to orbit," Boeing commentator Marc Lavigne just called.

2252 GMT (5:52 p.m. EST)

T+plus 13 minutes, 18 seconds. SECO 1. Confirmation that the second stage engine has shut down after the first of two planned firings to inject the W5 spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Delta 4 rocket has arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth.

2250 GMT (5:50 p.m. EST)

T+plus 11 minutes, 30 seconds. The Antigua tracking station has picked up the rocket's signal.

2250 GMT (5:50 p.m. EST)

T+plus 11 minutes. Just over two minutes left in this burn of the upper stage. Altitude 186 miles, downrange distance 1,390 miles, speed 14,600 miles per hour.

2248 GMT (5:48 p.m. EST)

T+plus 9 minutes, 30 seconds. The engine chamber pressure is reported steady.

2247 GMT (5:47 p.m. EST)

T+plus 8 minutes, 5 seconds. The upper stage continues to fire as planned. Altitude 161 miles, downrange distance 860 miles, speed 12,600 miles per hour.

2245 GMT (5:45 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 45 seconds. Altitude 140 miles, downrange distance 636 miles, speed 12,000 miles per hour.

2244 GMT (5:44 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes. The protective payload fairing enclosing the Eutelsat W5 satellite atop the rocket has separated.

2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The upper stage has ignited! The stage and its cryogenic RL-10B-2 engine is virtually identical to that used by Boeing's Delta 3.

2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 20 seconds. The Common Booster Core first stage -- making its first flight -- and the attached interstage have been separated in one piece from the Delta 4's upper stage. The upper stage engine's extendible nozzle is dropping into position.

2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 10 seconds. Main engine cutoff confirmed. The first large all-American rocket engine developed in a quarter-century completes its first launch.

2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes. The RS-68 powerplant is throttling down from 101 percent to about 58 percent in preparation for shutdown.

2242 GMT (5:42 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude 57 miles, downrange distance 179 miles, speed 9,500 miles per hour.

2242 GMT (5:42 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 33 seconds. The upper stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are chilling down for start.

2242 GMT (5:42 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes. The RS-68 is still firing. The engine consumes nearly a ton of propellants per second and produces 17 million horsepower.

2241 GMT (5:41 p.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 14 seconds. Good flight so far! Altitude 23 miles, downrange distance 51 miles, speed 3,700 miles per hour.

2240 GMT (5:40 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 45 seconds. Having used up all their solid-propellant, the two Alliant-built strap-on boosters have been jettisoned from the Delta's first stage. The spent casings fall into the ocean.

2240 GMT (5:40 p.m. EST)

T+plus 65 seconds. The vehicle has passed the area maximum dynamic pressure.

2239 GMT (5:39 p.m. EST)

T+plus 40 seconds. Both solid motors and the RS-68 liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen engine continue to fire. Delta 4 should reach Mach 1 in the next few seconds.

2239 GMT (5:39 p.m. EST)

T+plus 30 seconds. Delta 4 rocket has manuevered to the eastward trajectory away from the Florida coastline, heading downrange over the Atlantic Ocean.

2239 GMT (5:39 p.m. EST)

T+plus 20 seconds. Two good solid rocket motors firing.

2239 GMT (5:39 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of Boeing's next-generation rocket family as the maiden Delta 4 clears the tower!

2238 GMT (5:38 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 seconds. Main engine ignition!

2238 GMT (5:38 p.m. EST)

T-minus 20 seconds. The nozzle steering system for the twin strap-on solid rocket motors has been activited.

At T-minus 9.5 seconds, the hydrogen burnoff sparklers will fire beneath the main engine nozzle. The terminal countdown sequencer will take control at T-minus 8.5 seconds. Ignition of the RS-68 powerplant will follow at T-minus 5.5 seconds. The engine powers up to the 101 percent level of thrust for a computer-controlled checkout before liftoff. The solid boosters will be lit at T-minus 20 milliseconds.

2238 GMT (5:38 p.m. EST)

T-minus 40 seconds counting. Upper stage liquid hydrogen tank is ready.

2238 GMT (5:38 p.m. EST)

T-minus 1 minute and counting. The Eastern Range has given its "go" for launch. And the ignition parameters for the RS-68 main engine are met.

2237 GMT (5:37 p.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. First stage liquid hydrogen tank is at flight level and pressure. The first and second stage liquid oxygen tanks are now being secured.

2236 GMT (5:36 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The first stage propellant is being secured. And pressurization of the tank for launch has started.

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

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. Ordnance is being armed.

2234 GMT (5:34 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. The systems of the first and second stages of the Delta 4 rocket have switched to internal power.

2234 GMT (5:34 p.m. EST)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting! The maiden voyage of Boeing's Delta 4 rocket is now just five minutes away. Liftoff is set to occur on time at 5:39 p.m. EST (2229 GMT) from pad 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

2233 GMT (5:33 p.m. EST)

Launch Director Joy Bryant has given her final approval to pick up the countdown as planned. Liftoff is set for 5:39 p.m. EST.

2230 GMT (5:30 p.m. EST)

The Boeing launch team, Range and weather officer have been polled for a "go" to resume the countdown from T-minus 5 minutes at 5:34 p.m. and everyone gave their approval.

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

Now 10 minutes from the launch. Standing by for a readiness poll of the launch team.

2228 GMT (5:28 p.m. EST)

This last weather balloon data has been reported to the launch team. Conditions are verified "go" for launch!

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

The W5 spacecraft is now on internal power.

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

Boeing reports there are no technical issues. However, the next weather balloon will be returning data before launch time. So liftoff could be delayed if any concerns are found aloft. But at this point, liftoff is set for 5:39 p.m. EST.

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

A "go" has been given to configure the satellite payload for launch. This is the call to switch the Eutelsat W5 communications satellite to internal battery power for flight.

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

To recap, the Delta 4 rocket, ground systems and Range are "go" for launch at this time. Upper level winds are back within allowable limits. And the ground weather appears to be cooperating too.

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

T-minus 5 minutes and holding. Today's countdown has entered a planned 15-minute pause. This hold gives the launch team the opportunity to catch up on work running behind schedule and discuss any outstanding issues.

Currently all four cryogenic tanks on the rocket -- the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks on both the first and second stages -- are being topped off. Also, the pad's swing arm retraction system has been verified readied. The three arms will be swung away at liftoff.

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

The launch pad swing arm retraction system pins are being pulled.

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

The upper level winds are now "go" for launch!

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

The next weather balloon data is expected to be available very shortly.

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

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The Range Safety checks have been completed and acceptable. Countdown clocks are heading to the T-minus 5 minute mark were a 15-minute hold is planned. Boeing says there are no major technical issues standing in the way of launch. Upper level winds are still a concern, however.

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

The Air Force-controlled Eastern Range is now performing inhibited command destruct receiver checks. This ensures safety personnel can destroy the Delta 4 rocket if it veers off course or experiences a problem during launch.

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

After a review of data collected during last month's Flight Readiness Firing, Boeing has opted to remove the additional 10 percent margin put into the ground wind limits for launch. For this flight, there was the wind limit and then a 10 percent standoff for further conservatism. However, the standoff has been removed from the weather rules for tonight's launch attempt.

It should be noted that based on the specific direction of the winds today, officials aren't too concerned about violating the constraints. Clouds and showers are higher concerns.

The chief issue at present are the high-altitude wind conditions. The most recent weather balloon run revealed winds out of limits in the transonic region of flight. Another balloon is rising to altitude right now.

2141 GMT (4:41 p.m. EST)

The first stage steering checks have been performed. No problems reported in any of the slew tests.

2133 GMT (4:33 p.m. EST)

The slew tests of the RL-10B-2 upper stage engine are now complete. Solid motor checks are next.

2125 GMT (4:25 p.m. EST)

Prep work is now beginning to run the steering, or slew, checks on the rocket's engine nozzles. This is a standard pre-launch event during a countdown.

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

The launch team is now being told that the upper level winds are "no go" in the transonic region based on data from the latest weather balloon. The balloons are sent up periodically during the countdown to measure the speed and direction of winds. The next update on the winds is expected in the next hour.

Meanwhile, the vehicle remains in good shape. And the Eastern Range is ready to support.

2116 GMT (4:16 p.m. EST)

Air Force weather forecasters are still predicting an 80 percent of acceptable conditions during today's window of 5:39 to 6:49 p.m. EST. Clouds, showers and ground winds are the main issues being watched. High-altitude winds are being closely monitored today, too.

2109 GMT (4:09 p.m. EST)

Now 90 minutes away from launch time. The next major event in the count will be steering checks of engine nozzles, expected to start in about 15 minutes.

2051 GMT (3:51 p.m. EST)

All four cryo tanks of the Delta 4 rocket -- liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks of the first and second stages -- are now in topping following fueling operations this afternoon.

2045 GMT (3:45 p.m. EST)

Launch team reports there are no technical issues with the Delta 4 rocket or pad systems. Weather is being watched this afternoon. Earlier today, skies looked pretty good. There are a lot of clouds around the area now.

2039 GMT (3:39 p.m. EST)

Now two hours away from liftoff time. The countdown has progressed very smoothly today.

The launch team and management are guiding the countdown from the Delta Operations Center, located about 9,200 feet from the pad. The engineers overseeing the rocket and ground systems are located on the third floor; the Mission Directors Center room is on the fourth floor. Both rooms have a view of pad 37B and the Delta 4 rocket out their windows, which are covered with shatter-proof film. Other rooms are also set up for engineering support.

The DOC was formerly built to support the Titan-Centaur program, but has since been refurbished to support Delta 4.

2035 GMT (3:35 p.m. EST)

The liquid hydrogen tank of the upper stage is now being topped off.

2024 GMT (3:24 p.m. EST)

The pressurized chill conditioning of the RS-68 main engine has been completed, so the topping of first stage hydrogen tank has started.

2009 GMT (3:09 p.m. EST)

The upper stage liquid hydrogen filling has been completed. After some checks, toppping will commence. The upper stage liquid oxygen loading remains in work.

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

Both tanks of the first stage have been filled. Topping off to replenish the supplies that naturally boil away will be performed through the final minutes before launch. Meanwhile, loading of the upper stage hydrogen and oxygen tanks is underway at this time.

1939 GMT (2:39 p.m. EST)

With liftoff three hours away, the launch team reports the fast-fill of the first stage liquid hydrogen tank has been completed. Topping of the stage is still to come.

And the Range has confirmed there are no COLAs, or Collision Avoidance cutout periods during today's launch window of 5:39 to 6:49 p.m. EST.

Read our earlier status center coverage.