T-00:00:03 |
Engines at Full Thrust |
The five main engines of the Soyuz rocket's core stage and four strap-on boosters are at full thrust. |
|
T-00:00:00 |
Launch |
Producing more than 900,000 pounds of thrust, the Soyuz 2-1b rocket soars into the sky from the Guiana Space Center. |
|
T+00:01:58 |
Jettison Boosters |
The Soyuz rocket's four strap-on boosters, each powered by an RD-107A engine, are jettisoned after consuming their propellant. |
|
T+00:03:38 |
Jettison Fairing |
The ST-type payload fairing is released from the Soyuz rocket when it reaches the edge of the upper atmosphere. The 13.5-foot-diameter fairing protects the payload during the launch countdown and the flight through the dense lower atmosphere. |
|
T+00:04:48 |
Core Stage Separation |
Having burned its propellant, the core stage of the Soyuz rocket, also known as the second stage, separates and the third stage's RD-0124 engine ignites to continue the flight. |
|
T+00:09:24 |
Soyuz/Fregat Separation |
The Soyuz rocket's third stage releases the Fregat upper stage just shy of orbital velocity. |
|
T+00:10:24 |
First Fregat Ignition |
The hydrazine-fueled Fregat-MT upper stage, which is modified to carry additional propellant, ignites to place the Galileo satellites in an oval-shaped transfer orbit. |
|
T+00:23:31 |
First Fregat Shutdown |
The Fregat-MT upper stage shuts down to begin a coast phase lasting more than three hours. |
|
T+03:34:40 |
Second Fregat Ignition |
The Fregat-MT stage's main engine fires for a second time to circularize its orbit. |
|
T+03:39:57 |
Second Fregat Shutdown |
After a 5-minute, 17-second burn, the Fregat-MT upper stage shuts down after entering a circular orbit 14,429 miles high with an inclination of 54.7 degrees. |
|
T+03:44:57 |
Spacecraft Separation |
The two Galileo in-orbit validation satellites separate from their dispenser. |
|