BY JUSTIN RAY

October 21, 2000 -- Follow the countdown and launch of the Proton rocket launching the GE-6 communications satellite for GE Americom. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2000
0451 GMT (12:51 a.m. EDT)

MISSION SUCCESS. The GE-6 telecommunications satellite has been placed into orbit successfully today by a Russian Proton rocket. The craft was delivered into geosynchronous transfer orbit following a six-and-a-half-hour flight by the three-stage Proton vehicle and its Block DM upper stage.

The mission was managed by International Launch Services -- the joint U.S./Russian venture that globally markets Russian Proton and American Atlas rockets. This was the second successful launch for ILS this week after an Atlas carried a U.S. government communications satellite into orbit on Thursday night from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

ILS has carried out 12 launches so far in 2000, all of which were successful, and plans two more before year's end. Next up will be another Proton to loft the third Sirius Satellite Radio spacecraft in mid-November. The year will conclude with an Atlas launching a classified cargo for the secretive U.S. National Reconnaissance Office on the evening of December 4. The NRO operates the U.S. spy satellite fleet.

The GE-6 satellite will maneuver itself from the current egg-shaped orbit achieved during launch to a stationary perch 22,300 miles above the equator at 72 degrees West longitude. From that vantage point the Lockheed Martin-built craft will provide coverage to North and South America for satellite operator GE Americom of Princeton, New Jersey. Featuring 24 C-band and 28 Ku-band transponders, the satellite is designed to relay direct-to-home television programming, media and entertainment distribution and Internet Protocol services.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2000
2212 GMT (6:12 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 12 minutes. With the Block DM upper stage now in a quiet coast period around Earth, we are going to pause our live updates.

Today's launch is still far from over. The highlights of events yet to come will be a pair of firings by the Block DM. The first is scheduled for T+plus 73 minutes, 49 seconds to raise the altitude from the current circular parking orbit to an egg-shaped loop reaching over 20,000 miles high at one end. After the six-minute firing, the rocket will coast up to that high point before the second burn that will raise the orbit's low end and reduce inclination from the equator.

Separation of GE-6 to complete this launch is expected at T+plus 6 hours, 41 minutes, or 0441 GMT (12:41 a.m. EDT).

Check back for confirmation of spacecraft separation later tonight.

2211 GMT (6:11 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. Launch officals report the Block DM upper stage with GE-6 has successfully arrived in the planned low-altitude parking orbit around Earth.

2210 GMT (6:10 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes, 10 seconds. Confirmation of third stage engine shutdown and the spent stage has separated. The Block DM upper stage and attached GE-6 spacecraft are now flying on their own.

2208 GMT (6:08 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. One minute left in the third stage burn. Downrange distance 1459 km, altitude is 220 km.

2208 GMT (6:08 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. Combustion chamber pressure for the third stage single RD-0210 engine reported normal. Proton continues its trek to orbit without problems.

2206 GMT (6:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The third stage engine performing as expected. Downrange distance 870 km, altitude is 180 km. Also, the payload fairing enclosing the GE-6 spacecraft atop the rocket has been jettisoned.

2206 GMT (6:06 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. Successful separation of the spent second stage has occurred and the Proton's third stage has ignited.

2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. Tracking stations have acquired the rocket's signal. Downrange distance 550 km, altitude is 140 km.

2205 GMT (6:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. Downrange distance 450 km, altitude is 122 km.

2204 GMT (6:04 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. Flight of the Proton rocket is still reported nominal with proper pitch, yaw and roll control of the vehicle.

2203 GMT (6:03 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. Downrange distance 128 km altitude 72 km as the second stage continues to fire.

2202 GMT (6:02 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 25 seconds. The four RD-0210 second stage engines have ignited and the spent first stage has dropped away. Good staging confirmed. Altitude is 52 km, downrange distance 69 km.

2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. Flight control system parameters are reported nominal. Engine performance is as expected.

2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. Proton is approaching maximum dynamic pressure of about 800 pounds per square foot. All systems reported to be operating normally.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Proton rocket has made its roll maneuver to achieve the proper launch heading. All six RD-253 first stage liquid-fueled engines are firing.

2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Proton rocket and the GE-6 spacecraft -- a new commercial star in the sky to provide telecommunications services to North and South America.

2159 GMT (5:59 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Now 60 seconds away from launch of the Proton rocket and GE-6 satellite.

The engine start command will be issued by the launch sequencer at T-minus 2.5 seconds. The six first stage engines will be ignited at T-minus 1.6 seconds and commanded to 40 percent thrust. The thrust level is then increased to 100 percent at T-0 seconds. The liftoff confirmation is expected at T+0.57 seconds.

This engine start sequence allows for verification that all six powerplants are running normally before committing the Proton to launch.

2158 GMT (5:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The Block DM upper stage readiness for flight now being verified. The rocket's first three stages and GE-6 spacecraft remain "go" for launch. No problems have been reported during the final countdown to liftoff.

2156 GMT (5:56 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The enable key of the launch sequencer is being turned to the "on" position as the countdown continues to liftoff at 2200.

2155 GMT (5:55 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket's first three stages -- which comprise the "core vehicle" -- are being checked for final confirmation they are ready for launch.

2153 GMT (5:53 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes and counting. The Proton rocket weighs over 1.7 million pounds as it sits on the launch pad. The GE-6 spacecraft accounts for about 7,800 pounds of the weight. At launch the Proton's six first stage engines will fire together to propel the massive rocket into the nighttime skies at Baikonur.

2150 GMT (5:50 p.m. EDT)

Now inside the final 10 minutes to liftoff of the International Launch Services Proton rocket. This will be ILS' 18th Proton mission dating back to 1996. All but one of the previous launches have been successful. It also marks the 13th Proton of 2000 and 5th for ILS. Overall this will be 283rd Russian Proton rocket extending back to 1965.

2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. Activities are still on course for an on-time launch of the Proton rocket and GE-6 communications satellite at 2200 GMT.

The Proton rocket's first three stages that make up the core vehicle will complete their mission during the first 9 minutes, 49 seconds of the launch.

The Proton third stage will deploy the Block DM upper stage and attached GE-6 spacecraft into a 116 nautical mile circular parking orbit. The Block DM will conduct the first of two firings at T+plus 74 minutes to begin the journey into the desired orbit for GE-6. The burn will last about six minutes.

A second burn is planned at T+plus 6 hours, 20 minutes to completed the powered phase of today's launch. The second Block DM firing is expected to last just under two minutes.

Separation of GE-6 from the Block DM will occur about six hours, 41 minutes after liftoff.

2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. Now just a half-hour away from launch. The four stages that make up the rocket have been fully fueled for today's mission, which is managed by International Launch Services. Loading of propellants began about six hours ago, and retraction of the mobile service structure occur priort to T-minus 1 hour. The countdown is now under computer sequencer control through the remaining time until launch. Also, the launch team has provided the final updates to the rocket's guidance computer.

2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 40 minutes and counting. Launch officials report the countdown remains on schedule and there are no problems being addressed with the Proton rocket, the GE-6 satellite cargo or ground support systems. Liftoff remains set to occur at the top of the hour at 2200 GMT.

The Proton stands in the predawn darkness at Complex 81's pad 23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazkhstan. Liftoff will occur at 4 a.m. local time at the historic site in Central Asia. Baikonur, built in 1955, is the oldest launch site in the world.

2115 GMT (5:15 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 45 minutes and counting. Our live Webcast of today's launch is now underway. Tune in!

2100 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

Welcome to our live coverage of the launch of a Russian Proton rocket carrying the GE-6 telecommunications satellite to serve North and South America. Clocks are ticking down the final one hour until blastoff at 2200 GMT (6 p.m. EDT) from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)

An International Launch Services commercial Proton rocket is poised for blastoff today to haul an American telecommunications satellite into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The Krunichev-built heavy-lift launch vehicle is set to launch the GE-6 spacecraft into a geostationary transfer orbit. Liftoff from pad 23 at Baikonur's complex 81 is due to occur at 2200 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT).

A standard 6-1/2-hour flight is planned from the time of liftoff until GE-6 is deployed into orbit. The three-stage Proton rocket will burn for around the first ten minutes of the flight, followed by two separated burns of the Block-DM upper stage.

Once in space, GE-6 will be maneuver itself from the highly elliptical transfer orbit achieved during launch to a circular parking slot in geostationary orbit 22,300 miles high above Columbia in South America along the equator at 72 degrees West. A hybrid C-band/Ku-band satellite, GE-6 will be able to broadcast direct-to-home programming and both media and entertainment services, among other applications. The satellite's footprint, or broadcasting range, encompasses the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and central America. It is expected to operate for over 15 years.

GE-6 was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Sunnyvale, California. The satellite has a mass of 7,831 pounds and will feature a wingspan of 88 feet once the solar arrays are deployed.

This Proton mission will be the fifth ILS mission using a Proton rocket so far in 2000. It will be the 18th ILS Proton flight in the history of International Launch Services, a joint American-Russian venture formed between Lockheed Martin, Krunichev and RSC Energia. ILS markets both Atlas and Proton rockets. An ILS Atlas 2A rocket launched a U.S. Air Force communications satellite on Thursday night.

Spaceflight Now will provide continuous live status reports during today's final countdown and launch on this page. In addition, we will offer a live QuickTime streaming video broadcast starting at 2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT).