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Gravity Probe
B Launch Day Events
The Virtual Launch Control Center was activated
at
10:45 a.m. EDT.
The Virtual Launch
Control Center was deactivated at
2:15
p.m. EDT. Thank you for joining us for live coverage
of the successful launch of Gravity Probe B!
2:14
p.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has congratulated the team for a great effort and a job well done!
2:13
p.m. - The spacecraft is drifting away from the second stage of the Delta II. All four solar panels are deployed. Applause and cheering has broken out in the Mission Director's center. Separation is a major milestone for the success of Gravity Probe B.
2:12
p.m. - GP-B has successfully separated from the Delta
II launch vehicle.
2:09
p.m. - We are receiving video signal from the onboard camera, and can now confirm the solar panels have successfully deployed. The signal is being relayed from a ground station in Sweden.
2:04
p.m. - Gravity Probe B's solar panels have likely deployed,
but because tracking information is not available at this
point in the spacecraft's flight, that can not yet be confirmed.
2:01
p.m. - The spacecraft has now passed beyond the tracking range of the Malindi, Kenya ground station.
1:59
p.m. - The second stage engine restarted successfully,
and burned for 17.5 seconds.
1:56
p.m. - At this time, the vehicle is in a "nice, quiet coast mode."
1:54
p.m. - The second stage continues to look nominal for engine restart.
1:50
p.m. - The Malindi, Kenya station has acquired the
GP-B signal. "The data quality is very good from Malindi,"
according to the spacecraft team.
1:43
p.m. - The first stage of the Delta II launched with over 200,000 lbs. of thrust, while the second stage provided about 9,750 lbs.
1:22
p.m. - At the end of SECO 1, the vehicle reorients
itself to the desired coast attitude. At
the end of that roll manuever, the vehicle is reoriented to second stage restart
burn
position. The second stage will restart over the Malindi, Kenya tracking station.
1:08
p.m. - Second stage engine cutoff. The engine will
later refire to better position the spacecraft in orbit.
The NP-3D Orion aircraft is still sending back spacecraft
telemetry.
1:02
p.m. - The fairing has been jettisoned.
1:01
p.m. - Main engine cutoff has been achieved.
12:58
p.m. - The first 6 solid rocket boosters have been jettisoned.
12:57
p.m. -
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.. and liftoff of the Delta rocket carrying Gravity Probe
B, testing for truth in the physics of our Universe!
12:54
p.m. - T-3 minutes and counting. Gravity Probe B is go for launch.
12:53
p.m. - The T-4 minute hold has been released. We are
at T-4 minutes and counting.
12:49
p.m. - The Launch Director is conducting his final readiness poll. The launch team is ready to go.
12:46
p.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has conducted his final readiness poll. The team is ready to go for launch. Upper level winds are green.
12:43
p.m. - T-4 minutes and holding for 10 minutes.
12:36
p.m. - T-10 minutes and counting.
12:33
p.m. - T-14 minutes and counting. Final checks are
being run on the launch vehicle. 12:27
p.m. - T-20 minutes and counting.
12:22
p.m. - There are 5 minutes left in the T-20 minute hold.
12:21
p.m. - The Mission Director has conducted his poll. The team is ready to go.
12:20
p.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has conducted his poll. The NASA team is ready to proceed with the countdown.
12:17
p.m. - Data collection will not be complete until 2005. In 2006, analysis will be complete
and the results of this mission will be published.
12:08
p.m. - Weather briefing. There is no significant weather. Weather constraints are green. Chance of violation at launch is 30%.
12:07
p.m. - We are now at T-20 minutes and holding. The hold
will last for 20 minutes.
12:04
p.m. - First stage slew is complete.
Did you know?
GP-B's telescope will locate the center of the guide star to within 1/10th of a milliarcsecond. No existing telescope is accurate enough to do this.
12:00
p.m. - Second stage slew has completed. First stage slew has now begun.
11:59
a.m. - Engine slew begins. First is the "coast slew," then
the "first stage slew." The engines are rotated on an x-y
plane, back and forth.
11:56
a.m. - The Dewar, which is a part of the GP-B spacecraft,
is a sophisticated Thermos bottle for
holding cryogenic liquids.
11:47
a.m. - GP-B has two star trackers, or cameras, that
use constellations and stars to determine the direction
the satellite is pointing.
11:37
a.m. - LOX loading has completed after 24 minutes, 5 seconds.
11:20
a.m. - There will be six tracking stations following
this spacecraft, ranging from an unmanned aircraft known
as the NP-3D Orion, to a ground site in Malindi, Kenya.
Did you know?
GP-B uses a special Global Positioning System to accurately
locate the operations of its satellite in both space and time.
11:19
a.m. - We are 6 minutes into fueling of the first stage of the Delta II.
11:13
a.m. - LOX loading has begun. As the liquid oxygen gets
loaded, the vehicle seems to change color from blue to white.
11:11
a.m. - Preparations to load liquid oxygen (LOX) on the
Delta II vehicle have begun. At T-75, both the spacecraft
and vehicle are go for launch.
11:07
a.m. - The flight hazard area has been cleared.
11:03
a.m. -The Mission Director has conducted his poll
for cryo loading. The team is go.
11:01
a.m. - The NASA Launch Manager has conducted a go/no go poll for cryo loading. There is currently a 'red' condition due to upper level winds, but the trend is looking good for launch. The team is go for cryo loading.
10:56
a.m. - T-95 weather briefing. No warnings, watches
or advisories have been issued. Wind shear is light at
all levels. There is no significant precipitation in
the area. Clouds are not currently posing any issues
for launch. We are currently go for launch.
Events that occured prior to activation of the Virtual
Launch Control Center:
10:39
a.m. - RP-1 fueling is now complete, after 17 minutes and 57 seconds.
10:21
a.m. - Fueling of the vehicle with RP-1 (a highly
refined kerosene) has begun. The Delta II will be
loaded with a total of 9,938 gallons.
Did you know?
When the spacecraft separates from the Delta
II rocket, it will be spinning, due to the unique requirements of
the mission.
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