Aura Launch Day Events

The Virtual Launch Control Center was activated at
4:00 a.m. EDT.

The Virtual Launch Control Center was deactivated at 6:01 a.m. EDT. Please continue to visit the Virtual Launch Control Center for the latest status of the Aura launch.

6:01 a.m. - A hold has been called. Battery current measurements resulted in a red alarm. The launch window has been exhausted and we have scrubbed for today.

5:58 a.m. - The T-4 minute hold has been released. We are at T-4 minutes and counting!

5:56 a.m. - The spacecraft is on internal power.

5:55 a.m. - The final polls have been conducted and we are go for launch.

5:53 a.m. - We are 5 minutes into the T-4 hold.

5:51 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager is conducting his final poll. The launch team will give a go/no-go to proceed with the countdown at the end of this built-in hold.

5:48 a.m. - We have reached the T-4 minute hold. This hold will last for 10 minutes.

5:42 a.m. - T-10 minutes and counting.

5:38 a.m. - T-14 minutes and counting. Final checks are being run on the launch vehicle.

5:32 a.m. - The count has resumed. We are now at T-20 minutes and counting! The next hold will be at T-4 minutes.

5:27 a.m. - There are 5 minutes left in the T-20 minute hold.

5:25 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has conducted a poll, and the team is ready to proceed with the launch. The count is ready to proceed from the T-20 minute hold.

5:14 a.m. - The latest weather briefing looks good for launch. There is still a 0% chance of constraint. The range is also green.

5:12 a.m. - We are now at T-20 minutes and holding. This hold will last for 20 minutes.

5:08 a.m. - The first stage gimble slews are now complete.

5:05 a.m. - The gimble slew checks are complete on the second stage.

5:02 a.m. - The first and second stage engines are now undergoing their steering checks, known as 'gimble slew' checks.

Did you know?
Aura will begin sending back science results in July 2005.

4:52 a.m. - T-40 minutes and counting. There are no issues with the spacecraft or launch vehicle.

4:43 a.m. - The liquid oxygen 'fill and drain' valve is now being cycled as a test.

4:42 a.m. - After 24 minutes of LOX loading, we are now 100% loaded.

4:38 a.m. - LOX loading is 95% complete.

4:34 a.m. - We are at T-50 minutes and counting, and 16 minutes into LOX loading.

Did you know?
Six tracking stations will keep watch over the launch of Aura. They're located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, San Nicolas Island (California), Malindi (Kenya), Thule (Greenland), Alaska and Hawaii.

4:28 a.m. - LOX loading has now reached the 10-minute mark.

4:23 a.m. - We are now 5 minutes into LOX loading.

4:19 a.m. - Normal venting of liquid oxygen vapor from the launch vehicle has begun.

4:18 a.m. - The 'fill and drain' valve for liquid oxygen is open, and LOX is flowing into the vehicle.

4:17 a.m. - Liquid oxygen (LOX) loading into the launch vehicle has begun.

4:05 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager is reporting no issues with the Delta II launch vehicle or Aura spacecraft, and the launch team is go for cryogenic tanking.

4:02 a.m. - We are standing by for the NASA Launch Manager's poll.

4:01 a.m. - There is a 0% chance of weather constraining the launch. Temperatures will be in the upper 50s, with low winds, low clouds and fog.

4:00 a.m. - The countdown has been uneventful to this point. The RP-1 fuel loading has been completed. Preperations are underway for the start of cryogenic tanking. The NASA Launch Manager is preparing to poll his team.

3:53 a.m. - Range Safety beacon checks with the launch vehicle are underway.

Did you know?
Aura was designed to answer three questions: Is the stratospheric ozone layer recovering? What are the processes controlling air quality? How is Earth's climate changing?