Messenger Launch SLC-17B 06:15:56 UTC 3 Aug 2004

Messenger Launch SLC-17B
06:15:56 UTC 3 Aug 2004
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d307/status.html






BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the Boeing Delta
2-Heavy rocket with NASA's MESSENGER probe that will
orbit Mercury. Reload this page for the very latest on the
mission.


Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: BAD WEATHER SCRUBS MONDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT QT
VIDEO: WEATHER OFFICER GIVES FORECAST FOR TUESDAY QT
VIDEO: MESSENGER'S LAUNCH CAMPAIGN SHOWN WITH
NARRATION QT
VIDEO: DELTA 2 ROCKET IS ASSEMBLED ON THE LAUNCH PAD QT
VIDEO: MOBILE SERVICE TOWER IS ROLLED BACK SUNDAY EVENING
QT

VIDEO: SATURDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT
VIDEO: MESSENGER PRE-LAUNCH SCIENCE BRIEFING QT
VIDEO: WATCH THE MESSENGER OVERVIEW NEWS CONFERENCE QT
SUBSCRIBE NOW


0615:56 GMT (2:15:56 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is
departing for an unprecedent reconnaissance
mission of Mercury -- our solar system's
innermost planet.

0615 GMT (2:15 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 30 seconds.

The launch ignition sequence will begin at
T-minus 2 seconds when a Boeing engineer
triggers the engine start switch. The process
begins with ignition of the two vernier engines
and first stage main engine start. The six
ground-lit solid rocket motors then light at T-0
for liftoff.

0614:56 GMT (2:14:56 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. The Delta 2 rocket's second
stage hydraulic pump has gone to internal
power after its pressures were verified
acceptable.

0614 GMT (2:14 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 70 seconds. The Range has issued its
final clear-to-launch.

0614 GMT (2:14 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 90 seconds. Boeing mission director
Rich Murphy has given his final approval to
launch.

0613:56 GMT (2:13:56 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The first stage liquid oxygen
vents are being closed so the LOX tank can be
pressurized for launch. Puffs of vapor from a
relief valve on the rocket will be seen in the
remainder of the countdown as the tank
pressure stabilizes.

0613 GMT (2:13 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 26 seconds. The
MESSENGER spacecraft has been declared
"go" for launch.

0612:56 GMT (2:12:56 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The rocket's
third stage safe and arm devices are being
armed.

0612 GMT (2:12 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes, 45 seconds and counting.
The Delta 2 rocket's systems are now
transferring to internal power for launch.

0611:56 GMT (2:11:56 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The final
phase of the countdown is underway for launch
of the Delta 2-Heavy rocket and the
MESSENGER space probe at 2:15:56 a.m. EDT
from pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida.

0611 GMT (2:11 a.m. EDT)

The "go" has been given to restart the
countdown clock in one minute.

0610 GMT (2:10 a.m. EDT)

MESSENGER has successfully transitioned to
internal power.

0610 GMT (2:10 a.m. EDT)

The MESSENGER spacecraft is switching to
internal battery power for launch.

0608 GMT (2:08 a.m. EDT)

The launch team is now receiving final
instructions on countdown procedures.

0607 GMT (2:07 a.m. EDT)

With five minutes remaining in this built-in
hold, the launch team readiness poll is being
performed by Boeing.

0606 GMT (2:06 a.m. EDT)

Liftoff is now 10 minutes away.

0605 GMT (2:05 a.m. EDT)

NASA launch manager Chuck Dovale just
conducted a final launch readiness poll for
team. The space agency is ready to proceed
with the countdown.

"The NASA team is ready to proceed with
launch," Dovale said.

618 GMT (2:18 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 40 seconds. The three
air-ignited solid rocket boosters have burned out
and separated. The rocket is now flying solely
on the power generated by the liquid-fueled first
stage main engine.

0618 GMT (2:18 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes. A beautiful liftoff of the third
Delta 2-Heavy rocket!

0617 GMT (2:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 1 minute, 25 seconds. All six
ground-start solid rocket boosters have burned
out of propellant and separated from the Delta
2's first stage. A moment before the jettison
occurred, the three remaining motors strapped
to rocket ignited to continue assisting the
rocket's RS-27A main engine on the push to
space.

0616 GMT (2:16 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 30 seconds. The six Alliant
Techsystems-made solid rocket motors ignited
on the launch pad are burning normally.

0616 GMT (2:16 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 20 seconds. The Boeing Delta 2-Heavy
rocket has cleared the tower at Cape
Canaveral's Complex 17B and begun
maneuvering to the correct eastward trajectory
from Florida's coastline for the flight over the
open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

0615:56 GMT (2:15:56 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is
departing for an unprecedent reconnaissance
mission of Mercury -- our solar system's
innermost planet.

0624 GMT (2:24 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 54 seconds. SECO 1. The
second stage engine cutoff has occurred,
completing the motor's first firing of the day.
The Delta 2 rocket with MESSENGER has
arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth
following launch from Cape Canaveral. The
vehicle will coast for more than a half-hour
before the second stage is re-ignited.

0624 GMT (2:24 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. Coming up on
engine cutoff. Altitude 92.3 miles, downrange
distance 1,192 miles, traveling at 16,451 mph.

0624 GMT (2:24 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. The second stage engine is
still firing, consuming a hydrazine propellant
mixture and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer. This
burn is needed to achieve a parking orbit
around Earth.

0623 GMT (2:23 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 40 seconds. The second stage
engine continue to fire. Altitude 89 miles,
downrange distance 974 miles, traveling at
15,687 mph.

0623 GMT (2:23 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 10 seconds. Chamber
pressures look good on the second stage engine.

0622 GMT (2:22 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 35 seconds. The downrange
tracking station on Antiqua island has acquired
the rocket's signal.

0621 GMT (2:21 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 40 seconds. The second stage
engine continue to fire. Altitude 77 miles,
downrange distance 610 miles, traveling over
14,534 mph.

0621 GMT (2:21 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes. The 9.5-foot diameter
protective payload fairing enclosing
MESSENGER spacecraft atop the rocket has
jettisoned in two halves.

0620 GMT (2:20 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 50 seconds. The Aerojet
AJ10-118K engine of the Delta 2 rocket's second
stage engine has ignited! This is the first of two
critical firings that the second stage must
perform to deliver the MESSENGER satellite
space.

0620 GMT (2:20 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 38 seconds. MECO! Main
engine cutoff. The Rocketdyne RS-27A first
stage main engine has shut down to complete its
firing during today's launch. The twin vernier
steering thrusters fired a few additional seconds
before they cut off. Then the spent stage was
jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic.

0619 GMT (2:19 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The first stage
continues to fire normally. Engine positioning is
reported smooth.

0618 GMT (2:18 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 40 seconds. The three
air-ignited solid rocket boosters have burned out
and separated. The rocket is now flying solely
on the power generated by the liquid-fueled first
stage main engine.

0714 GMT (3:14 a.m. EDT)

This marks the 113th successful Delta 2 rocket
launch out of 115 flights since 1989 and extends
the string of consecutive successes to 60 dating
back to 1997. It was the fifth Delta launch in
2004. The next is scheduled for September 22
from Cape Canaveral when another Global
Positioning System military navigation satellite
is launched for the U.S. Air Force.

0712 GMT (3:12 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 56 minutes, 50 seconds. SPACECRAFT
SEPARATION! NASA's MESSENGER space
probe has been released from the Boeing Delta 2
rocket's third stage to complete today's launch
from Cape Canaveral.

MESSENGER has embarked on its seven-year,
five-billion-mile voyage from the Earth to
Mercury. The craft will use gravity-assisted
sling-shot maneuvers during encounters with
Earth, Venus and even Mercury over the next
several hours before arriving in orbit around its
destination -- the innermost planet of our solar
system -- in March 2011.

0711 GMT (3:11 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 55 minutes, 30 seconds. The U.S. Navy
tracking station in Dongara, Australia, is now
relaying live data from the Delta rocket.

0707 GMT (3:07 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 51 minutes, 42 seconds. The third stage
has burned out of its solid fuel, ending the Delta
2 rocket's powered flight for this morning's
launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft.
Separation of the payload is about five minutes
away.

0707 GMT (3:07 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 51 minutes. The third stage motor
continues to fire with no problems reported.

0706 GMT (3:06 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 50 minutes, 20 seconds. Third stage
ignition! The Thiokol Star 48B motor is firing to
propel MESSENGER on its trek away from
Earth.

0706 GMT (3:06 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 50 minutes. The solid-fueled third stage
has separated from the Delta 2's second stage.

0705 GMT (3:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 49 minutes, 42 seconds. Spin up has
begun.

0705 GMT (3:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 49 minutes, 30 seconds. The orbit
achieved at SECO 2 is on target.

0705 GMT (3:05 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 49 minutes, 3 seconds. SECO 2. The
second stage has completed its second burn of
this launch. In the next minute, tiny thrusters on
the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the
vehicle in preparation for jettison of the second
stage.

0703 GMT (3:03 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 47 minutes, 40 seconds. Engine chamber
pressures look good as the engine remains in
operation.

0703 GMT (3:03 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 47 minutes, 20 seconds. The second
stage engine burn is smooth, Boeing says.

0702 GMT (3:02 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 46 minutes, 30 seconds. The stage is
stable as the firing continues.

0702 GMT (3:02 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 46 minutes, 5 seconds. Engine ignition!
The Delta 2 rocket's second stage engine has
restarted to boost the rocket into a higher orbit.
This firing is expected to last nearly three
minutes.

0701 GMT (3:01 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 45 minutes, 20 seconds. The Air Force's
OTTR shipboard telemetry receiving station
located in the southeast Indian Ocean is now
picking up data from the Delta 2 rocket as it
passes overhead. Second stage restart is about
one-minute away.

0656 GMT (2:56 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 40 minutes. The OTTR telemetry ship
should acquire the rocket's signal in about five
minutes. Ignition of the second stage engine is
expected just moments later.

0649 GMT (2:49 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 33 minutes. The rocket is now soaring
above the southern tip of Africa.

0642 GMT (2:42 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 26 minutes, 10 seconds. The Ascension
Island data pass is now complete. The Delta
rocket has flown over the horizon from that
tracking station. The next telemetry will be
available via an instrumented ship located in the
Indian Ocean beginning about 20 minutes from
now. That ship will receive data on the rocket's
second stage engine restart for relay back to
Cape Canaveral.

0635 GMT (2:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 19 minutes, 50 seconds. Data through
Ascension confirms that the rocket is stable
during its orbital coast.

0635 GMT (2:35 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 19 minutes, 15 seconds. The Ascension
island tracking station in the central Atlantic
Ocean is receiving telemetry from the rocket as
the vehicle soars overhead.

0633 GMT (2:33 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 17 minutes. As this coast phase of the
launch continues, you can see a map of the
rocket's planned track here.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/...0728track.html


0631 GMT (2:31 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 15 minutes. The official liftoff time was
2:15:56.537 a.m. EDT.

0628 GMT (2:28 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 12 minutes, 30 seconds. The rocket has
passed out of range from the Antigua tracking
site. This begins an expected telemetry blackout
while the vehicle coasts in the parking orbit. The
Ascension island station should acquire signal in
a few minutes.

0627 GMT (2:27 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 11 minutes. Restart of second stage
engine is expected at T+plus 46 minutes. The
stage will fire for nearly three minutes to raise
the orbit's high point, or apogee, by 4,000 miles.
That will be followed by separation between the
second and third stages. The upper stage will
burn to propel MESSENGER on the first leg of
its trek to Mercury. Deployment of the payload
to complete the launch is expected at T+plus 56
minutes, 43 seconds.

0626 GMT (2:26 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes, 30 seconds. Boeing reports
that the orbit achieved at second stage engine
cutoff is right on the mark. The orbit was
targeted to be 90 miles circular with an
inclination of 32.44 degrees to the equator.

Meanwhile, the new MESSENGER Mission group has opened:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MESSENGER-Mission/

Special features for members: press conferences and science briefings videos,
plus the complete video coverage of launching, ready to download.

Everything is already up.

--
Dan