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Soyuz launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: December 12, 2013

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+00:03:40 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+00:09:23 Soyuz/Fregat Separation
The Soyuz rocket's third stage releases the Fregat upper stage just shy of orbital velocity.
T+00:10:23 First Fregat Ignition
The hydrazine-fueled Fregat upper stage ignites to place the Gaia spacecraft in a preliminary parking orbit.
T+00:12:39 First Fregat Shutdown
The Fregat upper stage shuts down to begin a coast phase. The Fregat and Gaia should now be in a circular orbit with an altitude of 108 miles and an inclination of 14.98 degrees.
T+00:21:25 Second Fregat Ignition
After coasting for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, the Fregat stage's main engine fires for a second time to boost Gaia on a trajectory toward the L2 Lagrange point.
T+00:36:59 Second Fregat Shutdown
The Fregat upper stage shuts down after firing for 15 minutes, 34 seconds.
T+00:41:59 Gaia Separation
The 4,484-pound Gaia spacecraft separates from the Fregat upper stage

Data source: Arianespace

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