Titan 4B-38 launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Updated: January 14, 2002

T+0:00:00 Liftoff
The twin Solid Rocket Motor Upgrade (SRMU) boosters are ignited and the Titan 4B rocket launches from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
T+0:00:07 Roll Program
Rocket beings a roll maneuver to the flight azimuth of 93 degrees for the travel downrange from launch site.
T+0:02:11 Stage 1 Ignition
The Titan 4B rocket's core vehicle stage 1 engine package -- the Aerojet LR87-AJ-11 -- is ignited. The liquid-propellant powerplant burns Aerozine-50 fuel and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer.
T+0:02:27 SRMU Separation
Having consumed all their solid-propellant, the two Alliant Techsystems-built solid rocket boosters are jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
T+0:03:36 Jettison Payload Fairing
The tri-sector payload fairing buit by Boeing that protected the Milstar satellite during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.
T+0:05:25 Staging of Titan Core
The first stage engine shuts down and the second stage Aerojet LR91-AJ-11 engine is ignited. The spent first stage is jettisoned from the rest of the space-bound Titan 4B rocket one second after the second stage is started.
T+0:09:15 Stage 2 Shutdown
The liquid-fueled second stage engine completes its firing and begins a momentary coast period before deployment of the upper stage and Milstar payload.
T+0:09:23 Stage 2/Centaur Separation
The Lockheed Martin-built Centaur upper stage is released from the Titan rocket's core vehicle, which has completed its role in the launch.
T+0:09:44 Centaur Burn 1
The liquid-fueled Centaur stage is ignited for the first of three firings needed to deliver the Milstar satellite into the desired geostationary orbit.
T+0:11:44 Centaur Cutoff 1
The Centaur completes its first burn to achieve a stable low-Earth orbit with the attached Milstar satellite.
T+1:05:02 Centaur Burn 2
After quiet coast period through space, the Centaur stage is restarted in the first of a two-step process to propel Milstar in geostationary orbit.
T+1:10:16 Centaur Cutoff 2
The Centaur engines are shut down following the firing that should raise one side of the orbit to geostationary altitude of 22,300 miles.
T+6:23:05 Centaur Burn 3
Following a lengthy coast to the high point of its orbit -- around geostationary altitude -- the Centaur engines are again reignited to circularize the orbit by raising the low end of the orbit. This will deliver Milstar into a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the planet.
T+6:25:17 Centaur Cutoff 3
Shut down of the Centaur engines occur to complete the powered phase of this launch. The stage now prepares to release the Milstar satellite. Centaur will later perform a collision avoidance maneuver, propellant blowdown and hydrazine depletion after spacecraft separation.
T+6:35:30 Spacecraft Separation
The Milstar 2-F3 secure military communications satellite is deployed into space from the Centaur upper stage to complete the Titan B-38 launch.

Data source: U.S. Air Force.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Titan 4B (B-38)
Payload: Milstar 5
Launch date: Jan. 15, 2002
Launch window: 2148-0148 GMT (4:48-8:48 p.m. EST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida

Pre-launch briefing
Titan 4B - Description of America's most powerful unmanned rocket.

Milstar satellite - A look at the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay satellite program.

Communications - Overview of Boeing's Medium Data Rate and crosslink payloads on Milstar.

Antennas - Technical description of Milstar's medium data rate nulling antennas made by TRW.

DPS - TRW's digital processing subsystem on Milstar is key to payload.

Titan 4 history - Chart with listing of previous Titan 4 flights.


Mission Report
Space Shuttle Flights 1-5: The NASA Mission Reports covers the shuttle through its test flight stage and on to the first operational flight. Includes CD-ROM.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Apollo 11 special patch
Special collectors' patch marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing is now available.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Inside Apollo mission control
An insider's view of how Apollo flight controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.
 Choose your store:
U.S.

The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Next ISS crew
Own a little piece of history with this official patch for the International Space Station's Expedition 11 crew. We'll ship yours today!
 Choose your store:
U.S.

Gemini 12
Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Phoenix mission patch

Apollo patches
The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price.
 U.S. STORE



Expedition 16 crew patch
The official embroidered patch of the International Space Station Expedition 16 crew is now available to U.S. customers from our store.
 U.S. STORE

Columbus mission patch
The official astronaut embroidered patch of Atlantis' STS-122 mission that launched the Columbus science lab in February is available to U.S. customers from our store.
 U.S. STORE

Project Orion
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
 U.S. STORE


The ultimate Apollo 11 DVD
This exceptional chronicle of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing mission features new digital transfers of film and television coverage unmatched by any other.
 Choose your store:
U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide

Get e-mail updates
Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose).
Enter your e-mail address:
MISSION STATUS CENTER

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2008 Pole Star Publications Ltd