{"id":11673,"date":"2021-05-17T23:12:28","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T15:12:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/atlas-5-sbirs-geo-5-launch-timeline\/"},"modified":"2021-05-17T23:12:28","modified_gmt":"2021-05-17T15:12:28","slug":"atlas-5-sbirs-geo-5-launch-timeline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/atlas-5-sbirs-geo-5-launch-timeline\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlas 5\/SBIRS GEO 5 launch timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:&nbsp;<\/strong>Updated after scrub May 17 to reflect new launch date.<\/p>\n<p>This is the launch timeline to be followed by the Atlas 5 rocket\u2019s ascent into orbit from Cape Canaveral with the SBIRS GEO 5 satellite for U.S. military infrared reconnaissance. Launch is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:31 p.m. EDT (1731 GMT).<\/p>\n<p>The Atlas 5 has a 40-minute window for takeoff Tuesday, and the 194-foot-tall rocket will arc to the east from Florida\u2019s Space Coast on its first flight of the year. It will be the 87th Atlas 5 launch overall since United Launch Alliance\u2019s workhorse rocket debuted in August 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The timeline below ends with the conclusion of the primary mission, the deployment of the SBIRS GEO 5 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The Centaur\u2019s RL10 engine will ignite a third time at T+plus 1 hour, 19 minutes, 27 seconds, for a planned 13-second de-orbit burn.<\/p>\n<p>Follow live coverage of the countdown and launch in our Mission Status Center.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qKdouZ6jZsg\" width=\"678\" height=\"381\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>T+00:01.1: Liftoff<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51788\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"494\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline1.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline1-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline1-768x422.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline1-678x372.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><br \/>\nWith the RD-180 main engine running and two solid rocket boosters firing, the Atlas 5 vehicle lifts off with 1.6 million pounds of thrust and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+00:47: Mach 1 and Max Q<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51789\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline2.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline2-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline2-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline2-678x377.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><br \/>\nThe Atlas 5 rocket exceeds the speed of sound and passes through the region of maximum dynamic pressure during ascent through the lower atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+02:09.7: Jettison SRBs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51791\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline3.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline3-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline3-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline3-678x381.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>Having burned out of propellant approximately 40 seconds earlier, the spent solid rocket booster is jettisoned once dynamic pressure conditions are satisfied.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+04:10.0: Main Engine Cutoff<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51792\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline4.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline4-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline4-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline4-678x381.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><br \/>\nThe RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+04:16.0: Stage Separation<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51793\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline5.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline5-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline5-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline5-678x375.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><br \/>\nThe 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>+04:19.2: Centaur Ignition 1<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51794\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline7.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline7-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline7-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline7-678x376.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><br \/>\nThe Centaur RL10C-1-1 engine ignites for the first of two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and SBIRS spacecraft into an initial parking orbit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+04:27.3: Nose Cone Jettison<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51795\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline8.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline8-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline8-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline8-678x381.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>The payload fairing that protected the SBIRS GEO 5 spacecraft during launch is separated after passage through the atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+15:06.3: Centaur Cutoff 1<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51796\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline9.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline9-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline9-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline9-678x377.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned low-Earth parking orbit. The vehicle enters a 16-minute coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn. Two suitcase-size rideshare payloads sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Academy will deploy from the aft bulkhead of the Centaur stage at T+plus 15 minutes, 37 seconds and T+plus 16 minutes, 25 seconds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+31:06.5: Centaur Ignition 2<\/strong><br \/>\n&nbsp;<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51797\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline10.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline10-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline10-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091_timeline10-678x381.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>A final push by Centaur is ignited to raise the orbit\u2019s low point and reduce orbital inclination for the SBIRS GEO 5 spacecraft.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+34:27.5 Centaur Cutoff 2<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51798\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline11.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline11.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline11-300x166.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline11-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/av091timeline11-678x375.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>The Centaur stage shuts down its RL10C-1-1 engine after reaching an orbit ranging in altitude between 575 miles (925 kilometers) and 22,216 miles (35,753 kilometers), with an inclination angle of 21.14 degrees to the equator.<\/p>\n<p><strong>T+42:46.5 Spacecraft Separation<\/strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51799\" src=\"http:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sbirsgeo5sep_art.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sbirsgeo5sep_art.jpg 900w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sbirsgeo5sep_art-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sbirsgeo5sep_art-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/sbirsgeo5sep_art-678x381.jpg 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<p>The SBIRS GEO 5 missile warning sentinel is released into orbit from the Centaur upper stage to complete the launch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:&nbsp;Updated after scrub May 17 to reflect new launch date. This is the launch timeline to be followed by the Atlas 5 rocket\u2019s ascent into orbit from Cape Canaveral with the SBIRS GEO 5 satellite for U.S. military infrared reconnaissance. Launch is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:31 p.m. EDT (1731 GMT). The Atlas 5 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[864,1709,724,1706,771,1392,1708,1608],"class_list":["post-11673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-aerojet-rocketdyne","tag-aj-60a","tag-atlas-5","tag-av-091","tag-cape-canaveral-space-force-station","tag-centaur","tag-complex-41","tag-cubesats"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11673"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}