BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the preparations and launch of the Air Force Titan 2 rocket carrying the NOAA-M weather satellite. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

Video coverage for subscribers only:
   VIDEO: 5-MINUTE CLIP OF THE LAUNCH QT or RV
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   VIDEO: VIEW FROM LAUNCH COMPLEX PARKING LOT QT or RV
   VIDEO: MOBILE TOWER ROLLED BACK FOR LAUNCH QT or RV
   VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH PROCESSING OF NOAA-M QT or RV
   VIDEO: TITAN 2 ROCKET STACKED ON THE PAD QT or RV
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   VIDEO: ANIMATION OF NOAA-M IN ORBIT QT or RV
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MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2002

A leftover relic of the Cold War launched a civilian satellite Monday on a $298 million mission to continue a 40-year legacy of tracking Earth's global weather from space. Read full story.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

The NOAA-M spacecraft was confirmed to be power positive at 1949 GMT today. Officials say everything has gone extremely well with the launch and delivery into space of the newest polar-orbiting weather satellite.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

Everyone is happy with the launch of NOAA-M. We'll pause our coverage at this point and update next once confirmation is received that all the appendages are deployed and the spacecraft is in a power-positive state.

We'll have a full wrap-up story with pictures and movies later today.

1855 GMT (2:55 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 32 minutes. The McMurdo ground tracking site has picked up the NOAA-M spacecraft as it passes within range of the station near the South Pole. Deployments of the satellite's appendages continue.

1850 GMT (2:50 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 27 minutes. NOAA-M's power-generating solar array has been deployed. The spacecraft's antenna deployment sequence is now underway. The satellite telemetry is being received and relayed through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-West spacecraft.

1841 GMT (2:41 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 18 minutes. Today's official liftoff time was 1823:03.656 GMT.

1840 GMT (2:40 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 17 minutes. The spacecraft team reports it is pleased with the orbit achieved.

1839 GMT (2:39 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 16 minutes. NOAA-M's solid-fueled kick motor has burned as expected. The motor is a critical part of the launch because it places the satellite into the circular orbit around Earth, taking over from the ballistic trajectory the two-stage Titan 2 achieves. The satellite will now perform a velocity trim burn using is hydrazine thrusters.

1838 GMT (2:38 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 minutes. Standing by for confirmation that the kick motor firing is underway to propel the NOAA-M into orbit around Earth's poles. This is an ATK Tactical Systems-built Star 37XFP solid rocket motor.

1834 GMT (2:34 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 12 minutes, 30 seconds. Clocks are counting down to ignition of the Apogee Kick Motor attached to NOAA-M, which is about two minutes away.

1834 GMT (2:34 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. NASA says the Titan 2 appears to have performed properly today.

1833 GMT (2:33 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. NASA's TDRS-West tracking satellite is following NOAA-M.

1832 GMT (2:32 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. The spacecraft is dropped off from the Titan 2 rocket on a ballistic trajectory. The kick motor will provide the necessary boost to achieve a stable orbit. Without this upcoming burn, NOAA-M would reenter the atmosphere and not complete even one orbit of Earth.

1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 10 seconds. Velocity over 15,000 miles per hour. Spacecraft orienting for the AKM firing.

1829 GMT (2:29 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 40 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION CONFIRMED! The NOAA-M weather satellite has been released from the Titan 2 rocket. But this does not conclude the craft's journey. The satellite's onboard solid-fueled Apogee Kick Motor will ignite in about eight minutes to deliver the craft into the circular orbit around Earth.

1828 GMT (2:28 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 37 seconds. The Titan 2 rocket's second stage has burned out as planned, completing the powered phase of today's launch for the converted ICBM missile. The stage's four attitude control system engine modules will now fire to achieve the proper orientation to deploy the NOAA-M spacecraft in about a minute.

1827 GMT (2:27 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Less than one minute remaining in the second stage burn. No problems have been reported thus far in the flight.

1827 GMT (2:27 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. Altitude 82 miles. Second stage continues to burn. Good attitude on the vehicle.

1826 GMT (2:26 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 45 seconds. The tri-sector payload fairing enclosing the NOAA-M spacecraft has been jettisoned.

1825 GMT (2:25 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 40 seconds. The first stage of the Titan 2 shut down and the spent stage has separated. The rocket's second stage engine has now ignited to continue the trek to space for NOAA-M

1824 GMT (2:24 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. One minute left in the first stage burn. No problems reported in the flight of Titan 2.

1824 GMT (2:24 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 65 seconds. Approaching maximum aerodyanmic pressure as the Titan 2 vehicle climbs through the atmosphere.

1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The Titan 2 rocket has rolled to the proper southerly heading. The flight azimuth today is 192 degrees to propel NOAA-M on a course to polar orbit.

1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Titan 2 rocket with the NOAA-M satellite -- continuing the legacy of tracking Earth's weather from space. And the vehicle has cleared the tower!

1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds. The rocket's first and second stage pre-valves will to open at this time. The vehicle's destruct system will be armed at T-minus 9 seconds. Titan 2 goes inertial at T-minus 5 seconds.

1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 57 seconds. Commit sequence start.

The "Fire Engine" command to ignite the liquid-fueled first stage engine will occur as the countdown reaches zero. Once the engine thrust reaches about 77 percent, the explosives bolts holding the rocket to the four columns of the launch mount are detonated and the Titan 2 lifts off. The whole process takes less than four seconds.

The Titan 2 rocket will need just six-and-a-half minutes to boost the NOAA-M satellite to the planned sub-orbital ballistic trajectory. The spacecraft will then perform a burn of its kick motor to complete the journey into an orbit around the planet's poles.

1821 GMT (2:21 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 seconds. The NOAA-M spacecraft has been verified on internal power and ready to fly. And the Western Range has reported its final "go" for launch.

1821 GMT (2:21 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The rocket's flight termination system has been checked. No problems reported. The FTS would be used to destroy the vehicle if a problem occurred during the launch today.

1820 GMT (2:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting.

1819 GMT (2:19 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The Air Force Launch Controller has performed the final "clear-to-launch" poll and "go" was the word given all around.

1818 GMT (2:18 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes. Now just minutes away from today's launch of the Titan 2 rocket -- a former Cold War ICBM missile built in the 1960s and stationed in an Arkansas silo from 1969 to 1987 -- and the NOAA-M polar-orbiting weather satellite.

1817 GMT (2:17 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes. The spacecraft team has announced the NOAA satellite is "go" for launch.

1816 GMT (2:16 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. The NASA team has reported its final launch readiness.

1816 GMT (2:16 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes and counting. The payload support systems are declared ready for launch.

1815 GMT (2:15 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes and counting. The final booster readiness check of the Titan 2 rocket has been completed with no problems identified.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes. The launch team is making final notes on system status.

1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 12 minutes and counting.

1808 GMT (2:08 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes and counting. The final phase of today's countdown, known as Terminal Count, has started for launch of a U.S. Air Force Titan 2 rocket and the NOAA-M weather satellite.

1803 GMT (2:03 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 19 minutes, 30 seconds. The Air Force Launch Controller has performed the "clear-to-proceed" poll and the "go" was given to enter Terminal Count at T-minus 15 minutes as planned. Liftoff remains set for 1823 GMT.

1801 GMT (2:01 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 22 minutes and counting. NASA Mission Director Omar Baez has just completed another readiness poll of the NASA team. The P-3 tracking aircraft has reported its telemetry computer is down. But that is not a constraint to launch. The P-3 coverage of the spacecraft's course to orbit is backup to the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System coverage.

1758 GMT (1:58 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 25 minutes and counting. Launch readiness polls of the team is upcoming over the next few minutes. If there are no troubles announced, clocks will continue ticking and enter the Terminal Count at T-minus 15 minutes.

1753 GMT (1:53 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The Air Force launch weather officer has just confirmed conditions are currently acceptable for liftoff.

1748 GMT (1:48 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 35 minutes and counting. The NOAA-M spacecraft has its own countdown, which began at T-minus 31 1/2 hours at 1052 GMT (6:52 a.m. EDT; 3:52 a.m. PDT) on Sunday. The satellite was powered up for launch and will remain so through its life in space. Over the past day, technicians have completed the final steps to ready the Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft for flight.

1733 GMT (1:33 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 50 minutes and counting. The countdown continues smoothly for today's launch of the Titan 2 and NOAA-M. The launch team is not addressing any technical problems that would prevent liftoff today. Weather conditions at Vandenberg Air Force Base are within limits for launch. However, the weather is not the best for spectators because of fog and low clouds. Forecasters had hoped this would burn off by mid-day but it isn't happening as quickly as believed.

1718 GMT (1:18 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 65 minutes and counting. At this time the first stage oxizider tank is being pressurized for launch and the tracking and flight safety check of the Titan 2 rocket is beginning. Launch remains on schedule to occur at 1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT; 11:23 a.m. PDT).

1715 GMT (1:15 p.m. EDT)

NASA Mission Director Omar Baez has just completed a readiness poll of the NASA team. No problems were reported.

Officials have determined that if liftoff cannot occur at 1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT; 11:23 a.m. PDT) as planned, there is a backup opportunity available at the end of today's window at 1832 GMT (2:32 p.m. EDT; 11:32 a.m. PDT). That is based on the collision avoidance quotients.

Should launch not occur today, attempts could be made tomorrow and Wednesday.

"We have a string of three days that are available: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Then it is two days of bad days. Then we go into the 29th and 30th, which are good days for us again," Omar said.

The days that aren't available "has to do with the other satellites up in the constellation and deconflicting the operations there," Omar said.

1708 GMT (1:08 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 hour, 15 minutes and counting. Launch of the Titan 2 rocket and NOAA-M remains scheduled for 1823 GMT today from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. There are no technical issues being worked and the weather is acceptable for launch.

The countdown is being controlled by the team located in the Space Launch Complex 4 Launch Operations Building. This blockhouse is located just 1,300 feet from the SLC-4W pad where the Titan 2 stands poised for its blastoff today.

The doors to the blockhouse will be sealed shortly with all members of the crew inside.

Air Force Launch Controller is overseeing the blockhouse crew, commanding and controlling countdown activities and passing information up the chain of command to the Air Force Launch Director who makes the ultimate management decisions. During the final readiness poll in the countdown, the Launch Controller will verify the rocket, satellite payload and facilities are "go" for launch, then gives concurrence to the Launch Director to proceed to liftoff if no problems are reported.

The Launch Director and other senior Air Force officials are stationed in Vandenberg's Building 7000 several miles away. The final launch decision authority rests with the Spacelift Commander of the Air Force's 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg.

The Air Force is responsible for conducting countdown and launch of NOAA-M under an agreement with NASA. The civilian space agency is responsible for managing the construction of the satellite, getting it launched into space and performing the initial on-orbit checkout. Control of the craft is then handed to NOAA for operations.

1657 GMT (12:57 p.m. EDT)

The mobile service tower has been secured in its park position for launch. The retraction took a bit longer than planned because the motion had to be stopped a few times due to some difficulties.

1653 GMT (12:53 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 minutes and counting. During yesterday's pre-launch news conference, Lt. Col. Clinton Crosier, the Titan 2 launch director from the 2nd Space Launch Squadron at Vandenberg, provided a look back to the history of this refurbished Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that will carry NOAA-M today.

"This booster was actually on ICBM nuclear alert at Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock in Arkansas, from 1969 till 1987. So this booster was a key part of serving America proudly as a deterrent during the Cold War and winning the Cold War, in fact.

"It was decommissioned from Little Rock Air Force Base in 1987. In 1988, it was sent to the Lockheed Martin facility in Denver and was refurbished and upgraded for the space-lift mission. It has been on Vandenberg Air Force Base since 1996, waiting for the NOAA mission. It was matched against the NOAA mission a number of years ago. In 2001 and early 2002, it went through rigorous testing, checkout and evaluation procedures as we prepared to bring it out to the pad.

"We brought this booster out to the pad on April 1. We brought Stage 1 and Stage 2 out in separate segments, convoyed them out to the pad. We stacked Stage 1 and then hoisted Stage 2 up into the mobile service tower and electrically and mechanically connected those two stages of the booster together. It goes through quite a bit of electrical and mechanical checkout procedures after that.

"On May 22 we got to a major milestone in the processing phase, which we call Combined Systems Test. Basically, that is a head-to-toe test for Stage 1 and Stage 2 to make sure that all of the electrical and mechanical and interface connections between the two stages are functioning properly.

"We got through the Combined Systems Test process and that clears us to go forward to the next phase, which is convoying the satellite from the satellite processing facility tout to SLC-4 West and mating it onto the Stage 2 booster. We convoyed the satellite out and mated it May 29. Again, it undergoes quite a bit of electrical and mechanical interface testing.

"Once the satellite has been completed checked out and fueled, we bring the payload fairing out and actually encapsulate the satellite. The payload fairing is the shroud you see sitting atop the rocket when it is on the launch pad. The purpose of the payload fairing is to protect the satellite during the turbulent phases of launch while the booster is traversing through the environment. We put the payload fairing in place on June 9.

"And then after a couple more days of readiness testing and checkout, we went to our final stage of processing, which we refer to the Integrated Systems Test. This is an end-to-end test of the payload fairing, the satellite, Stage 2 and Stage 1 and all the interfaces between them to make sure that the entire system is operating correctly and functioning properly. We also go through a simulated launch countdown process at that time.

"We got a 'clean data go' as we call it on the Integrated Systems Test on June 14, which gave us our final go-ahead to press for readiness days and get ready for where we are today."

The launch countdown began at 1622 GMT (12:22 p.m. EDT; 9:22 a.m. PDT) on Sunday.

1638 GMT (12:38 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 hour, 45 minutes and counting. Unlike a lot of countdowns that we cover, today's will not include any fueling operations for the launch vehicle. The two-stage Titan 2 rocket was loaded with its storable propellants on Tuesday, June 18. The nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer and Aerozine 50 fuel (made up of Unsymetrical Dimethal Hydrazine and Monomethal Hydrazine) were pumped into the rocket from storage tanks located at the pad. Space Launch Complex-4 West has two 11,000-gallon fuel tanks and one 28,000-gallon oxidizer tank.

1623 GMT (12:23 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 hours and counting. The count is running again after a one-minute pause to accomodate today's new launch time 1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT; 11:23 a.m. PDT). The one-minute delay in liftoff is necessary since orbital tracking data shows a potential collision with an object already in space if launch were to occur at 1822 GMT.

Meanwhile, retraction of the mobile service tower continues.

1622 GMT (12:22 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 hours and holding. The countdown clock has been stopped for one minute in order to synch up with today's new target launch time of 1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT; 11:23 a.m. PDT).

1617 GMT (12:17 p.m. EDT)

New launch time! Liftoff today had been planned for 1822 GMT at the opening of the launch window. However, a collision avoidance period, or COLA, prohibits launch at that moment. So officials have reset the target launch time to 1823 GMT (2:23 p.m. EDT; 11:23 a.m. PDT).

1546 GMT (11:46 a.m. EDT)

The 200-foot tall mobile service tower -- a massive wheeled structure that serves as a rocket assembly building and cocoon-like shelter -- is beginning to roll away from the Titan 2 vehicle at Space Launch Complex-4 West. This is a key event during the countdown to launch.

The tower provides the primary access and weather protection for the rocket while at the seaside pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It also has a 30-ton crane used to lift stages of the rocket and the satellite payload for stacking operations. The structure takes about a half-hour to roll 180 feet away from the Titan 2.

1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)

Controllers report that all preparations to roll the mobile service tower have been completed. The structure should begin moving back from the Titan 2 shortly.

1522 GMT (11:22 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and counting. Work to retract the 200-foot tall mobile service structure from around the rocket is on-going at Space Launch Complex-4 West this morning as the countdown continues.

The Titan 2 rocket, which was once a nuclear-tipped Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in the U.S. military's arsenal, will propel the NOAA-M satellite on its way to a polar orbit above Earth today. The spacecraft will separate from the rocket's second stage about six-and-a-half minutes after launch while on a sub-orbital trajectory. A solid-fueled kick motor on the satellite will fire a few minutes later, giving the craft the extra boost to achieve orbit.

This will be the 11th flight of a refurbished Titan 2 as a satellite launcher since 1988. Two more are scheduled -- the October launch of the much-delayed DMSP F16 military weather satellite and the January flight of the Coriolis ocean wind research craft.

1452 GMT (10:52 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours, 30 minutes and counting. Clocks continue ticking down at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for today's Titan 2 rocket launch. NASA officials are not reporting any significant problems at this hour.

It is extremely foggy at the launch site this morning, but forecasters say it should burn off by mid-day, hopefully by liftoff time. In any event, the fog is not a constraint to launch. The only minor weather concern today is ground wind. Overall, there is a 90 percent of meeting the launch weather rules.

1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT)

Launch day has arrived for the NOAA-M weather satellite and the Titan 2 rocket. The countdown is on schedule for liftoff at 1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT; 11:22 a.m. PDT) today.

Over 400 government and contractor personnel are actively involved in today's countdown at Vandenberg Air Force Base, as well as other support sites. The call-to-stations for the launch team occurred at T-minus 6 hours.

At the Space Launch Complex 4-West launch pad, technicians are working through preparations to roll back the mobile service tower from around the rocket. Activities include retracting the access platforms on the tower's various levels, opening the swing doors, securing tension lanyards, disconnecting security cables and checking the structure's rails to ensure they are free of debris in advance of the rollback.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2002

The countdown is underway for Monday's planned launch of the Titan 2 rocket with the NOAA-M weather satellite for NASA and NOAA. The 26-hour count began today at 1622 GMT (12:22 p.m. EDT; 9:22 a.m. PDT).

Launch remains set to occur at 1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT; 11:22 a.m. PDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base on California's Central Coast, about 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The rocket will head south for the trek to space, though should be difficult to see from Southern California since it has liquid-fueled engines that don't produce a smoke contrail.

Officials say there are no significant problems being worked after a glitch was resolved earlier today.

"There was one issue that we were entertaining earlier today at our (Launch Readiness Review) and that had to do with data flowing back to our engineering data center at (Building) 836. That has been patched, verified and it is working properly. So there are no issues being worked at this point," NASA Mission Director Omar Baez said.

Air Force Launch Weather Officer Capt. Scott Emert is optimistic conditions will permit an on-time liftoff Monday. There is only a 10-percent chance of winds gusting above the 21-knot limit. His forecast calls for northwesterly winds of 8 to 12 knots.

We will have complete live coverage of Monday's countdown and launch starting at around 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT; 7 a.m. PDT) as workers prepare to retract the mobile service from around the rocket at the SLC-4 West pad.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2002

A polar orbiting weather satellite that will be used in global forecasting and environmental research is slated for blastoff Monday atop a refurbished Air Force Titan 2 missile.

Liftoff from Space Launch Complex-4 West at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is scheduled to occur at 1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT; 11:22 a.m. PDT). The available launch window extends for 10 minutes.

Weather forecasters say there is a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. The only concern is high winds.

"High pressure is building in off the coast and continues to dominate Vandenberg's weather. A short-wave trough is forecast to move to our North early Monday. This will bring in a slight amount of cirrus clouds. During this period winds will be primarily onshore, from the northwest. Expect low clouds and fog in the mornings with afternoon sun throughout the forecast period. The onshore winds will moderate the temperatures and keep them in the low 50's at night and upper 50's to near 60 during the day. Upper level winds for the launch will be out of the southwest, reaching a maximum of 30-35 knots between 40,000 and 45,000 feet," Launch Weather Officer Capt. Scott Emert reported today.

The launch time conditions are expected to include a layer of stratus clouds with 6/8ths sky coverage at 800 feet and tops at 1,500 feet, cirrus clouds at 30,000 feet with 1/8th sky coverage and tops at 32,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles, northwesterly to northerly winds from 310 to 350 degrees at 8 to 12 knots and a temperature of 54 to 58 degrees F.

Should the launch be delayed to Tuesday, the forecast again calls for a 90 percent chance of good weather.

"Weather conditions will remain similar for a 24 hour scrub, as high pressure continues to dominate the Central Coast on Tuesday. Upper level winds Tuesday morning are forecast to be from the southwest, reaching a maximum of 25-30 knots near 35,000 feet," Emert said.

The $202 million NOAA-M spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, is the third in a series of five Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) with improved imaging and sounding capabilities.

The NOAA craft orbit about 450 miles above the planet, covering the entire globe ever 12 hours to provide meteorologists with the data needed to generate long range weather predictions and fill databases with information that is vital to climate monitoring.

NOAA-M will be renamed NOAA-17 after it successfully reaches orbit. It is intended to replace the four-year old NOAA-15 satellite.

"The NOAA-M satellite will improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world," said NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher.

"The satellite will enable continuity of data for monitoring events such as El Nino, droughts, volcanic ash, fires and floods. In addition, it will support the international COSPAS-SARSAT system by providing search and rescue capabilities essential for detection and location of ships, aircraft and people in distress."