T-00:02.7 |
Engine Start |
The Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch. |
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T+00:01.1 |
Liftoff |
The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-039, lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. |
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T+01:18.4 |
Mach 1 and Max Q |
The Atlas rocket achieves Mach 1 some 78 seconds into the flight, then passes through the region of maximum dynamic pressure at 91 seconds. |
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T+04:04.4 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
The RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage. |
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T+04:10.4 |
Stage Separation |
The Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition. |
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T+04:20.4 |
Centaur Ignition 1 |
The Centaur RL10 engine ignites for the longer of the two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and GPS 2F-4 spacecraft into a transfer orbit. |
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T+04:28.4 |
Nose Cone Jettison |
The two-piece payload fairing that protected the GPS 2F-4 craft during the atmospheric ascent is separated to reveal the satellite to space. |
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T+17:07.1 |
Centaur Cutoff 1 |
The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned elliptical transfer orbit. The vehicle enters a three-hour coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn. |
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T+3:17:37:8 |
Centaur Ignition 2 |
The Centaur re-ignites to circularize the orbit and enter the GPS satellite constellation. |
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T+3:19:07.1 |
Centaur Cutoff 2 |
At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have delivered the GPS spacecraft into the targeted circular orbit of 11,047 nautical miles, inclined 55 degrees to the equator. |
T+3:23:52.8 |
Spacecraft Separation |
The Global Positioning System 2F-4 navigation satellite is released into orbit from the Centaur upper stage to complete the AV-039 launch. |