| T-00:00 |
Liftoff |
| The Delta 2 rocket's main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters are started moments before launch. All three strap-on solid rocket motors are ignited at T-0 to begin the mission. |
|
| T+01:04.0 |
SRB Burnout |
| The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out. |
|
| T+01:39.0 |
Jettison SRBs |
| The solid rocket boosters are jettisoned to fall into the Pacific Ocean. The spent casings remained attached until the vehicle passed into preset drop zone, clear of offshore oil platforms. |
|
| T+01:40.0 |
Begin Dog-leg |
| After initially flying from Vandenberg along a 196-degree flight azimuth, the rocket begins steering itself to obtain the desired orbital inclination. This dog-leg maneuver continues for 40 seconds. |
|
| T+04:24.2 |
Main Engine Cutoff |
| After consuming its RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen, the Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A first stage main engine is shut down. The vernier engines cut off moments later. |
|
| T+04:32.2 |
Stage Separation |
| The Delta rocket's first stage is separated now, having completed its job. The spent stage will fall into the Pacific Ocean. |
|
| T+04:37.7 |
Second Stage Ignition |
| With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ118-K liquid-fueled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to place the WISE spacecraft into the proper orbit. |
|
| T+04:56.0 |
Jettison Payload Fairing |
| The 10-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the WISE cargo atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves. |
|
| T+10:22.5 |
Second Stage Cutoff 1 |
| The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached spacecraft are now in a long coast period before the second stage reignites. The orbit achieved should be 299 nautical miles at apogee, 100 miles at perigee and inclined 97.5 degrees. |
|
| T+51:40.0 |
Second Stage Restart |
| Delta's second stage engine reignites for a short firing to boost the elliptical orbit into a circular one. |
|
| T+51:48.5 |
Second Stage Cutoff 2 |
| The second stage shuts down after an 8.5-second burn. The orbit achieved should be 289.6 nautical miles at apogee, 282.1 miles at perigee and inclined 97.504 degrees. |
|
| T+55:20.0 |
Payload Separation |
| NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite is released from the Delta 2 rocket, completing the launch. |
