Aura Launch Day Events

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4:00 a.m. EDT.

The Virtual Launch Control Center was deactivated at 7:06 a.m. EDT. Thanks for joining us!

7:06 a.m. - Malindi tracking station has confirmed that the Aura has separated from the second stage. The handshakes in the Mission Director's Center confirm a good launch! This now concludes our live countdown coverage.

7:00 a.m. - The second stage has restarted and cut off as planned. The new orbit of the spacecraft after the second stage burn is 372.57 miles by 364.85 miles with an inclination of 98.217 degrees. This is a nominal orbit. The second stage is reorienting for spacecraft separation.

6:54 a.m. - Malindi tracking station in Kenya has acquired signal from Aura. Second stage continues to be in good health and is rotating slowly about its axis. The second stage will restart in about 5 minutes to raise the perigee (or low point) of Aura's orbit. The quality of data from Malindi is good. The slow rotation of the spacecraft on its axis is to maintain thermal stability. The second stage is being reoriented in preparation for its restart.

6:15 a.m. - The second stage will restart at 58 minutes 10 seconds into the mission. We have lost the signal from the P-3 tracking aircraft as the vehicle disappears over the horizon. The next station to acquire will be Malindi in South Africa at 52 minutes 28 seconds into the mission. Malindi will cover the restart of the second stage.

6:14 a.m. - Aura's nominal orbit has been achieved: 373.26 miles by 100 miles, at 98.2 degrees inclination.

6:13 a.m. - Second stage engine cutoff.

6:12 a.m. - The vehicle is 101 miles in altitude.

6:10 a.m. - P-3 aircraft is downrange and now supplying tracking data.

6:07 a.m. - First stage has been jettisoned.

6:06 a.m. - Vehicle is 134 miles downrange, 48 miles in altitude and traveling at 8,400 miles per hour. First stage main engine cutoff. Second stage ignition.

6:05 a.m. - The launch vehicle is 42 miles in altitude.

6:04 a.m. - The last three solid motors have been jettisoned.

6:03 a.m. - The first set of solids has burned out. First set of six solid boosters have been jettisoned.

6:01:59.344 a.m. - T-10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...we have ignition....and liftoff of NASA's Aura spacecraft on a mission to understand and protect the air we breathe!

6:00 a.m. - The Delta II first stage is being pressurized for launch. The launch vehicle is confirmed to be on internal power.

5:59 a.m. - T-3 minutes and counting. Launch vehicle ordnance has been activated. The spacecraft has been given its go for launch.

5:58 a.m. - We are at T-4 minutes and counting. Launch vehicles systems are being placed on internal power.

5:55 a.m. - The spacecraft is on internal power.

5:51 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has completed his final poll. All technical issues have been closed out and a go has been given to release the hold.

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

5:47 a.m. - At this time the launch countdown is proceeding on schedule.

5:46 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager's final poll is scheduled to take place in about 5 minutes, at which time he will report on the resolution of the launch vehicle engineering issues.

5:41 a.m. - The launch vehicle technical issues are gradually being resolved. The upper level wind data issue is still under discussion.

5:40 a.m. - We are now at T-12 minutes and counting.

Did you know?
The Aura mission will be run from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Learn more about this NASA Center.
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5:38 a.m. - The Range Safety command checks are now underway.

5:35 a.m. - Data link checks are complete.

5:34 a.m. - We are now at T-18 minutes and counting.

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.

5:24 a.m. -The NASA Launch Manager has completed his polls and authorized the release of the T-20 built-in hold. He advises that there are three technical issues related to the launch vehicle. Those issues will be addressed during the T-4 built-in hold. One of the three technical issues involves processing of wind data from the upper level weather balloon. This upper level wind data is input for the guidance system computer for launch vehicle steering. The other two issues are launch vehicle hardware issues.

5:20 a.m. - We are standing by for the NASA Launch Manager's poll to release the T-20 hold and proceed to the T-4 hold.

5:15 a.m. - The final weather briefing has completed. There is still a 0% chance of weather constraint for launch. All Range Safety weather criteria are also green.

5:13 a.m. - The final launch weather briefing is underway.

5:11 a.m. - We have reached the T-20 hold. This hold will last for 20 minutes.

5:08 a.m. - The first stage steering checks are complete.

5:04 a.m. - Second stage steering checks are complete. First stage checks are now underway.

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

5:02 a.m. - A go has been given to proceed with launch vehicle steering checks. These steering checks begin with the second stage.

4:59 a.m. - Launch vehicle steering systems are now being turned on, in preparation for testing.

4:46 a.m. - The LOX 'fill-and-drain' valve will be cycled every 30 minutes to verify proper operation.

4:43 a.m. - The first stage propulsion team is cycling the 'fill-and-drain' valve. This is the initial test after liquid oxygen loading has been completed.

4:42 a.m. - We are now at 100% LOX load. Liquid oxygen loading is complete.

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.

4:40 a.m. - LOX loading is now 95% complete.

4:39 a.m. - The Launch Weather Officer has reduced the probability of launch weather criteria violation to 0%.

4:36 a.m. - Launch vehicle guidance system turn on is complete.

4:32 a.m. - LOX loading is proceeding nominally.

4:25 a.m. - We are now 10 minutes into LOX loading.

4:18 a.m. - LOX loading has begun.

4:17 a.m. - The Launch Conductor has directed that the liquid oxygen (LOX) 'fill-and-drain' valve be opened.

4:06 a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has given a go to proceed with tanking. The Boeing team is now conducting final preperations to proceed with cryogenic tanking of the Delta II rocket.

4:04 a.m. - We are standing by for the NASA Launch Manager to conduct a go/no-go poll for cryogenic tanking.

3:55 a.m. - T-95 and counting. The weather forecast for cryogenic tanking and launch has completed, and there is currently a 20% chance of weather constraint for launch time. At launch, the temperature will be between 51-53 degrees, winds north to northeast at four to eight knots, with a chance of ground fog and a low cloud ceiling.

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?