| T-00:00 |
Liftoff |
| The first stage's decommissioned Minuteman 2 M55A1 solid rocket motor
ignites to begin the Minotaur 1 rocket's mission. Pitch and roll commands
two seconds later will put the rocket on the proper trajectory. |
|
| T+00:37.2 |
Max Q |
| Aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle reaches its peak as the Minotaur 1
accelerates through the lower atmosphere. |
|
| T+01:01.3 |
Stage 1 Sep./Stage 2 Ignition |
| At an altitude of more than 20 miles, the rocket's first stage exhausts its supply of solid fuel and is jettisoned. The second stage's SR19 motor ignites to continue the flight toward space. |
|
| T+01:17.9 |
Stage 2 Skirt Jettison |
| The second stage's aft skirt is jettisoned at an altitude of 32 miles. |
|
| T+02:13.4 |
Stage 2 Separation |
| After a 72-second burn, the Minotaur rocket's second stage separates at an altitude of more than 75 miles as the vehicle is traveling more than 6,100 mph. |
|
| T+02:15.6 |
Stage 3 Ignition |
| Components from the Pegasus rocket program take over as the Alliant
Techsystems, Inc. Orion 50XL motor begins its 75-second firing. |
|
| T+02:23.7 |
Fairing Jettison |
| The 61-inch titanium payload fairing that protected the satellites during the ride through the lower atmosphere is jettisoned as the rocket ascends
into space at an altitude of 83 miles. |
|
| T+03:30.3 |
Stage 3 Burnout |
| The Orion 50XL motor completes its burn and the Minotaur 1 enters a coast period lasting more than five minutes, during which the vehicle's altitude will soar from 135 miles to about 288 miles, the missionŐs orbital injection altitude. |
|
| T+08:38.8 |
Stage 3 Separation |
| The Minotaur's third stage is released to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. |
|
| T+08:49.8 |
Stage 4 Ignition |
| The Orion 38 solid rocket motor is ignited to complete the job of placing the payloads into orbit. |
|
| T+09:58.4 |
Stage 4 Burnout |
| The fourth stage uses up its propellant and burns out as it enters the
targeted orbit at an altitude of about 290 miles and an orbital inclination of 40.5 degrees. |
|
| T+11:58.3 |
TacSat 3 Separation |
| The Air Force's TacSat 3 satellite is deployed from the Minotaur 1
rocket's fourth stage. |
|
| T+22:02.3 |
PharmaSat Separation |
| NASA's tiny PharmaSat spacecraft is released from a P-POD deployment
system built by California Polytechnic State University. |
|
