* Astronomy

T plus 01:03.1
LIFTOFF! Lift-off of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket




TIME LINE



T plus 01:03.1 Ground SRM Burnout
The six ground-start Alliant TechSystems-built solid rocket motors consume all their propellant and burn out.
T plus 01:05.5 Air-Lit SRM Ignition
The three remaining solid rocket motors strapped to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage are ignited.
T+01:06.0 Jettison Ground SRMs
The six spent ground-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned in sets of three to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.
T plus 02:11.5 Jettison Air-Lit SRMs
Having burned out, the three spent air-started solid rocket boosters are jettisoned toward the Atlantic Ocean.
T+04:23.4 Main Engine Cut-off
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 plus 04:31.4 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 plus 04:36.9 Second Stage Ignition
With the stage jettisoned, the rocket's second stage takes over. The Aerojet AJ118-K liquid-fuelled engine ignites for the first of two firings needed to place the upper stage and GPS 2R-M1 satellite into the proper orbit.
T plus 04:57.0 Jettison Payload Fairing
The 9.5-foot diameter payload fairing that protected the GPS 2R-M1 satellite atop the Delta 2 during the atmospheric ascent is jettisoned is two halves.
T plus 11:28.2 Second Stage Cut-off 1
The second stage engine shuts down to complete its first firing of the launch. The rocket and attached GPS 2R-M1 spacecraft are now in a coast period before the second stage reignites. The orbit achieved should be 601 miles at apogee, 94 miles at perigee and inclined 37.77 degrees.
T plus 19:19.2 Second Stage Restart
Delta's second stage engine reignites for a short firing to raise the orbit further.
T plus 19:26.8 Second Stage Cut-off 2
The second stage shuts down after a 7.6-second burst. The orbit achieved should be 699 miles at apogee, 103 miles at perigee and inclined 37.84 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 plus 20:19.8 Stage Separation
The liquid-fuelled second stage is jettisoned from the rest of the Delta 2 rocket.
T plus 20:56.8 Third Stage Ignition
The Thiokol Star 48B solid-fuelled third stage is then ignited to deliver the GPS 2R-M1 satellite into its intended orbit around Earth.
T plus 22:23.5 Third Stage Burnout
Having used up all its solid-propellant, the third stage burns out to complete the powered phase of the launch sequence for GPS 2R-M1.
T plus 24:16.8 GPS 2R-M1 Separation
The U.S. Air Force's NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block 2R-M1 spacecraft is released into space. The Delta should have placed the satellite into a transfer orbit with a high point of 10,998 nautical miles and low point of 152 nautical miles inclined 39.5 degrees. The satellite will circularize its orbit and raise inclination to 55 degrees for joining the GPS constellation.