Mission Timeline for Today’s TROPICS Launch

Astra Rocket 3 for first TROPICS launch
Astra’s Rocket 3 sits at Space Launch Complex 46 on June 1, 2022, in preparation for the June 12 launch of the first two of six CubeSats that make up NASA’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission. The launch window opens at noon EDT. Photo Credit: Astra

NASA’s TROPICS CubeSats mission is scheduled to launch today, June 12, on an Astra Rocket 3 from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A two-hour window opens at noon EDT.

 Here’s a look at some of today’s upcoming milestones. All times are approximate:

COUNTDOWN

Min/Sec      Event

+0s               Lift-off

+6s               Begin Pitch Over

+1min 10s     Max-Q

+3min 00s     Main Engine Cutoff (MECO)

+3min 05s     Fairing separation

+3min 10s     Stage separation

+3min 15s     Upper stage ignition

+8min 30s     Second Engine Cutoff (SECO)

+8min 40s     Payload Deployment