Posted: July 28, 2010T-00:02.7Engine StartThe Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch.T+00:01.1LiftoffThe three strap-on solid rocket boosters are lit as the Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-019, lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.T+01:56Jettison SRBsHaving burned out of propellant approximately 25 seconds earlier, the spent solid rocket boosters are jettisoned to fall into the Atlantic Ocean.T+03:27Nose Cone JettisonThe payload fairing that protected the AEHF 1 spacecraft during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.T+03:33Forward Load Reactor JettisonThe Forward Load Reactor deck that supported the payload fairing's structure to Centaur upper stage is released six seconds after the shroud's jettison.T+04:17Main Engine CutoffThe RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.T+04:23Stage SeparationThe Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.T+04:33Centaur Ignition 1The Centaur RL10 engine ignites for the longer of the two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and AEHF 1 spacecraft into a parking orbit.T+14:08Centaur Cutoff 1The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned parking orbit. The vehicle enters a brief coast period lasting nearly 8 minutes before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.T+22:17Centaur Ignition 2The Centaur re-ignites over the equatorial Atlantic to accelerate the payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit from the parking achieved earlier in the launch sequence.T+27:37Centaur Cutoff 2At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have delivered the AEHF 1 spacecraft into the targeted orbit with an apogee of 22,236 statute miles, perigee of 119 statute miles and inclination of 27 degrees.T+51:00Spacecraft SeparationThe U.S. military's first Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite is released into orbit from the Centaur upper stage to complete the AV-019 launch.Data source: United Launch Alliance.John Glenn Mission PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The historic first orbital flight by an American is marked by this commemorative patch for John Glenn and Friendship 7.Final Shuttle Mission PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is available in our store. Get this piece of history!Celebrate the shuttle programFree shipping to U.S. addresses!This special commemorative patch marks the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Available in our store!Anniversary Shuttle PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!This embroidered patch commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program. The design features the space shuttle Columbia's historic maiden flight of April 12, 1981.Mercury anniversaryFree shipping to U.S. addresses!Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alan Shephard's historic Mercury mission with this collectors' item, the official commemorative embroidered patch.Fallen Heroes Patch CollectionThe official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.Atlas/LRO and LCROSS launch timelineSPACEFLIGHT NOWT-00:02.7Engine StartThe Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch.T+00:01.1LiftoffThe two strap-on solid rocket boosters are lit as the Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-020, lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.T+04:02Main Engine CutoffThe RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.T+04:08Stage SeparationThe Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.T+04:18Centaur Ignition 1The Centaur RL10 engine ignites for the longer of the today's two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and spacecraft into a parking orbit.T+04:26Nose Cone JettisonThe payload fairing that protected the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.T+14:01Centaur Cutoff 1The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned parking orbit. The vehicle enters a short coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.T+38:28Centaur Ignition 2The Centaur re-ignites to accelerate the payloads out of the temporary parking orbit achieved earlier in the launch sequence.T+43:23Centaur Cutoff 2At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have propelled the LRO and LCROSS spacecraft on their trajectory toward the Moon.T+46:12LRO SeparationNASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is released from the Centaur upper stage to begin its four-day cruise to the Moon.T+46:16LCROSS SequenceThe Centaur upper stage begins a safing sequence to deplete its remaining propellant and maneuvering fuel in preparation for the LCROSS mission. Official handover of the rocket stage to LCROSS is expected at T+plus 4 hours, 1 minute and 14 seconds.Data source: United Launch Alliance.STS-134 PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!Final Shuttle Mission PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history!Apollo CollageThis beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.STS-133 PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The final planned flight of space shuttle Discovery is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-133. Available in our store!Anniversary Shuttle PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!This embroidered patch commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program. The design features the space shuttle Columbia's historic maiden flight of April 12, 1981.Mercury anniversaryFree shipping to U.S. addresses!Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Alan Shephard's historic Mercury mission with this collectors' item, the official commemorative embroidered patch. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.Atlas/SDO launch timelineSPACEFLIGHT NOWT-0:00:02.7Engine StartThe Russian-designed RD-180 main engine is ignited and undergoes checkout prior to launch.T+0:00:01.1LiftoffThe Atlas 5 vehicle, designated AV-021, lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.T+0:01:21Sound BarrierContinuing to accelerate away from the planet, the rocket hits Mach 1.0 and breaks through the sound barrier. It will surpass the region of maximum aerodynanmic pressure 92 seconds into flight.T+0:04:03Main Engine CutoffThe RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.T+0:04:09Stage SeparationThe Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.T+0:04:19Centaur Ignition 1The Centaur RL10 engine ignites for the longer of the day's two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and spacecraft into a parking orbit.T+0:04:27Nose Cone JettisonThe payload fairing that protected the SDO spacecraft during launch is separated once heating levels drop to predetermined limits.T+0:15:17Centaur Cutoff 1The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned parking orbit. The vehicle enters a lengthy coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.T+1:42:43Centaur Ignition 2The Centaur re-ignites to accelerate the payload out of the temporary parking orbit achieved earlier in the launch sequence.T+1:45:57Centaur Cutoff 2At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have propelled the SDO spacecraft into the planned geosynchronous transfer orbit featuring a high point of 21,970 statute miles, low point of 1,555 statute miles and inclination of 28.5 degrees.T+1:48:46SDO SeparationNASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory to study the varying behavior of the Sun and its influences on Earth is released from the Centaur upper stage to complete the launch.Data source: United Launch Alliance.Final Shuttle Mission PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The crew emblem for the final space shuttle mission is now available in our store. Get this piece of history!STS-134 PatchFree shipping to U.S. addresses!The final planned flight of space shuttle Endeavour is symbolized in the official embroidered crew patch for STS-134. Available in our store!Ares 1-X PatchThe official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.Apollo CollageThis beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.Project OrionThe Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.Fallen Heroes Patch CollectionThe official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store. | | | | 2014 Spaceflight Now Inc.Atlas/SBIRS launch timelineSPACEFLIGHT NOW