| T-0:00:00.0 |
Liftoff |
| The Delta 2 rocket's main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters are started moments before launch. The three strap-on solid rocket motors are ignited at T-0 to begin the mission. |
|
| T+0:01:03.1 |
SRM Burnout |
| The three Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out. |
|
| T+0:01:06.0 |
Jettison SRMs |
| The three spent ground-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned in to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+0:04:24.3 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
| After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later. |
|
| T+0:04:32.3 |
Stage Separation |
| The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
| T+0:04:36.9 |
Second Stage Ignition |
| With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ10-118K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to boost the upper stage and Genesis spacecraft into the proper orbit. |
|
| T+0:04:42.0 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The 9.5-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the Genesis satellite atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves. |
|
| T+0:10:34.4 |
Second Stage Cutoff 1 |
| The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached Genesis spacecraft now begin a 46-minute coast period before the second stage reignites. The orbit achieved should be 100 by 107 nautical miles, inclined 28.5 deg. |
|
| T+0:56:40.5 |
Second Stage Restart |
| Delta's second stage engine reignites for a short firing to raise the orbital altitude. |
|
| T+0:57:50.9 |
Second Stage Cutoff 2 |
| The second stage shuts down after reaching an orbit of 99 by 2,062 nautical miles inclined 28.51 degrees. Over the next minute, tiny thrusters on the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the vehicle in preparation for stage separation. |
|
| T+0:58:43.9 |
Stage Separation |
| The liquid-fueled second stage is jettisoned from the rest of the Delta 2 rocket having completed its role in the launch. |
|
| T+0:59:20.9 |
Third Stage Ignition |
| The Thiokol Star 37FM solid-fueled third stage is then ignited to propel Genesis away from Earth. A nutation control system featuring a thruster on an arm mounted on the side of the stage will be used to maintain stability during the burn. |
|
| T+1:00:26.1 |
Third Stage Burnout |
| Having used up all its solid-propellant, the third stage burns out to completed the powered phase of the launch sequence. In about three-and-a-half minutes, two small yo-yo-like structures are released from the third stage to reduce the spinning motion the Delta rocket and Genesis are experiencing in preparation for satellite separation. |
|
| T+1:04:11.9 |
Spacecraft Separation |
| NASA's Genesis solar wind sample return spacecraft is deployed from the Delta 2 rocket to begin its three-month journey to the L1 point located a million miles from Earth. |
