| T-00:00:03 |
Engines at Full Thrust |
| The five main engines of the Soyuz rocket's core stage and four strap-on boosters are at full thrust. |
|
| T-00:00:00 |
Launch |
| Producing more than 900,000 pounds of thrust, the Soyuz 2-1b rocket soars into the sky from the Guiana Space Center. |
|
| T+00:01:58 |
Jettison Boosters |
| The Soyuz rocket's four strap-on boosters, each powered by an RD-107A engine, are jettisoned after consuming their propellant. |
|
| T+00:03:40 |
Jettison Fairing |
| The ST-type payload fairing is released from the Soyuz rocket when it reaches the edge of the upper atmosphere. The 13.5-foot-diameter fairing protects the payload during the launch countdown and the flight through the dense lower atmosphere. |
|
| T+00:04:48 |
Core Stage Separation |
| Having burned its propellant, the core stage of the Soyuz rocket, also known as the second stage, separates and the third stage's RD-0124 engine ignites to continue the flight. |
|
| T+00:09:23 |
Soyuz/Fregat Separation |
| The Soyuz rocket's third stage releases the Fregat upper stage just shy of orbital velocity. |
|
| T+00:10:23 |
First Fregat Ignition |
| The hydrazine-fueled Fregat upper stage ignites to place the Gaia spacecraft in a preliminary parking orbit. |
|
| T+00:12:39 |
First Fregat Shutdown |
| The Fregat upper stage shuts down to begin a coast phase. The Fregat and Gaia should now be in a circular orbit with an altitude of 108 miles and an inclination of 14.98 degrees. |
|
| T+00:21:25 |
Second Fregat Ignition |
| After coasting for 8 minutes, 46 seconds, the Fregat stage's main engine fires for a second time to boost Gaia on a trajectory toward the L2 Lagrange point. |
|
| T+00:36:59 |
Second Fregat Shutdown |
| The Fregat upper stage shuts down after firing for 15 minutes, 34 seconds. |
|
| T+00:41:59 |
Gaia Separation |
| The 4,484-pound Gaia spacecraft separates from the Fregat upper stage |
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