Ignition and liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s TDRS-L spacecraft. The mission began with launch at 9:33 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 on Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Centaur Engine First Cutoff
The Centaur engine’s first burn of the night ended on time more than 18 minutes into flight. Centaur and TDRS-L will coast in this parking orbit for 82 minutes before the final burn that will position the satellite for release.
Two Minutes Left in First Centaur Burn
The Centaur’s RL10 engine is still showing an excellent performance with two minutes left in its first burn.
Centaur Performing as Expected
The Centaur upper stage is performing well as it continues its burn to carry TDRS-L into a parking orbit for the coast phase.
Payload Fairing Jettisoned
The TDRS-L satellite is experiencing its first encounter with space now that its protective payload fairing has separated and fallen away.
Booster Engine Cutoff and Handoff to Centaur
Right on time, the Atlas rocket’s first-stage burn came to an end and the empty booster was released, clearing the way for ignition of the Centaur’s RL10 engine seconds later. This burn is scheduled to last about 14 minutes. Standing by for jettison of the payload fairing.
Atlas Booster Performing Well
Telemetry Officer Marty Malinowski reports the Atlas V is performing well. The vehicle is 32.6 nautical miles downrange and traveling 5,320 miles per hour.
Liftoff! TDRS-L On its Way to Orbit
Ignition and liftoff! The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA’s TDRS-L spacecraft is off the ground and climbing quickly away from Space Launch Complex 41, aiming to place the satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit high above Earth’s surface.
The vehicle will pass maximum dynamic pressure — often called “Max Q” — about a minute and a half into the flight, and the booster’s RD-180 engine will throttle back to 95 percent thrust. Guidance is provided by the avionics system on the Centaur upper stage and will be enabled about two minutes after liftoff.
Booster engine cutoff is expected at four minutes, with Atlas/Centaur separation six seconds later.
T-2 Minutes and Counting
Two minutes to go. The Atlas V rocket is switching to internal power.
T-4 Minutes and Counting
Four minutes left until liftoff!