T-00:00 |
Liftoff |
The first stage's decommissioned Minuteman 2 M55A1 solid rocket motor
ignites to begin the Minotaur 1 rocket's mission. Pitch and roll commands
two seconds later will put the rocket on the proper trajectory east from Wallops Island, Va. |
|
T+00:37 |
Max Q |
Aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle reaches its peak as the Minotaur 1
accelerates through the lower atmosphere. |
|
T+01:01 |
Stage 1 Sep./Stage 2 Ignition |
At an altitude of about 20 miles, the rocket's first stage exhausts its supply of solid fuel and is jettisoned. The second stage's SR19 motor ignites to continue the flight toward space. |
|
T+01:17 |
Stage 2 Skirt Jettison |
The second stage's aft skirt is jettisoned at an altitude of 32 miles. |
|
T+02:13 |
Stage 2 Separation |
After a 72-second burn, the Minotaur rocket's second stage separates at an altitude of 77 miles as the vehicle is traveling more than 6,000 mph. |
|
T+02:15 |
Stage 3 Ignition |
Components from the commercial Pegasus rocket program take over as the ATK Orion 50XL motor begins its 74-second firing. |
|
T+02:25 |
Fairing Jettison |
The 61-inch titanium payload fairing that protected the satellites during the ride through the lower atmosphere is jettisoned as the rocket ascends
into space at an altitude of 86 miles. |
|
T+03:29 |
Stage 3 Burnout |
The Orion 50XL motor completes its burn and the Minotaur 1 enters a coast period lasting more than five minutes, during which the vehicle's altitude will soar to approximately 310 miles, the mission's orbital injection altitude. |
|
T+08:56 |
Stage 3 Separation |
The Minotaur's third stage is released to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. |
|
T+09:07 |
Stage 4 Ignition |
The Orion 38 solid rocket motor is ignited to complete the job of placing the payload into orbit. |
|
T+10:14 |
Stage 4 Burnout |
The fourth stage uses up its propellant and burns out as it enters the
targeted orbit at an altitude of about 310 miles and an orbital inclination of 40.5 degrees. |
|
T+12:14 |
STPSat 3 Separation |
The Air Force's STPSat 3 satellite is deployed from the Minotaur 1
rocket's fourth stage. |
|
T+19:49 |
CubeSat Separation 1 |
The first portion of the mission's 28 CubeSat secondary payloads begin deploying from "wafer" containers stacked on the Minotaur fourth stage. |
|
T+22:19 |
CubeSat Separation 2 |
The last portion of the mission's 28 CubeSat secondary payloads begin deploying from "wafer" containers stacked on the Minotaur fourth stage. |
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