T-(Time-minus) used in the rightmost column is time remaining until launch holds included as L-(Launch-minus) given in the grey-hued column is time remaining until launch holds not included. A poll points to a special procedure used during countdowns. Decisions about countdown and launch are based on a poll process where NASA Launch Manager takes the advice of other members of the launch team. see more at "How a Launch Team is Working"
NOAA-N scheduled launch was to occur in a launch window running 6:22:01 a.m. to 6:32:01 a.m. PDT, May, 20th 2005. The mission was launching atop a Boeing Delta II from Vandenberg AFB. The mission had had to be previously delayed due to weather conditions, then to a technical defect. The NOAA-N satellite was a weather satellite, launching on a polar orbit
| Time EDT | L-(time) | Events |
|---|---|---|
| 4:04 a.m. | L-02:18 | The mobile service structure was retracted at 8 p.m. last evening. 10:30 p.m. was the call to station for the launch team |
| 4:11 a.m. | L-02:11 | The launch team has received confirmation that the Tracking and Date Relay System is ready to support launch |
| 4:12 a.m. | L-02:10 | A weather briefing will be conducted at T-95 minutes |
| 4:15 a.m. | L-02:07 | Propellant tank pressurization onboard the Delta II rocket is complete. T-97 minutes and counting |
| 4:16 a.m. | L-02:06 | There are no problems being addressed at this time. Launch is on schedule for a 6:22 a.m. PDT launch |
| 4:18 a.m. | L-02:04 | T-95 minutes and counting. The launch weather officer has given his weather briefing, as there currently are no weather watches or warnings. A zero percent weather constraint is forecasted at launch time |
| 4:20 a.m. | L-02:02 | Should a 24-hour delay be necessitated, there is a 30 percent chance of weather issues at next launch time |
| 4:23 a.m. | L-01:59 | T-88 minutes and counting |
| 4:24 a.m. | L-01:58 | NASA Launch Director is conducting a poll of the NASA team for status of Cryo Tanking and of the readiness to proceed |
| 4:32 a.m. | L-01:50 | The flight area has been secured for launch |
| 4:37 a.m. | L-01:45 | The Launch Manager has given a go to begin liquid Oxygen (LOX) loading |
| 4:39 a.m. | L-01:43 | LOX loading is now performing |
| 4:44 a.m. | L-01:38 | 6 minutes, 30 seconds into LOX loading |
| 4:50 a.m. | L-01:32 | LOX loading is proceeding as expected |
| 4:55 a.m. | L-01:27 | T-56 minutes |
| 4:57 a.m. | L-01:25 | LOX loading has begun 18 minutes ago |
| 4:59 a.m. | L-01:23 | LOX loading is now 95 percent complete |
| 5:00 a.m. | L-01:22 | LOX rapid load has closed, as the fine load has taken the relay to continue to 100 percent |
| 5:02 a.m. | L-01:20 | Loading LOX performed |
| 5:06 a.m. | L-01:16 | The propulsion team is cycling the first stage "fill and drain" valve. This is the initial test after liquid Oxygen loading has finished |
| 5:08 a.m. | L-01:14 | The liquid Oxygen 'fill and drain' valve is cycled every 30 minutes to verify proper operation |
| 5:20 a.m. | L-01:02 | T-31 minutes and counting. Engine gimbal steering checks (slew checks) are due to begin shortly |
| 5:25 a.m. | L-:57 | The slew checks are underway and the second stage checks are complete |
| 5:28 a.m. | L-:54 | First stage slew checks in process |
| 5:29 a.m. | L-:53 | First stage Helium checks now complete |
| 5:32 a.m. | L-:50 | T-20 minutes. Start of a 20-minute built-in hold |
| 5:33 a.m. | L-:49 | The final launch weather briefing is underway |
| 5:34 a.m. | L-:48 | Weather briefing completed. Team is clear to proceed towards launch |
| 5:48 a.m. | L-:34 | 3 minutes remaining in the T-20 minute hold |
| 5:51 a.m. | L-:31 | The NASA Launch Manager has completed his polls and has directed the launch team to continue with the countdown |
| 5:52 a.m. | L-:30 | End of the hold. T-20 minutes and counting |
| 6:01 a.m. | L-:21 | T-10 minutes, 40 seconds and counting |
| 6:06 a.m. | L-:16 | Weather conditions are go for launch |
| 6:07 a.m. | L-:15 | T-4 minutes. A 10-minute built-in hold is beginning |
| 6:11 a.m. | L-:11 | The NOAA-N spacecraft is on internal power |
| 6:12 a.m. | L-:10 | The launch team is ready to proceed with the terminal countdown and final launch poll |
| 6:14 a.m. | L-:08 | The Launch Conductor has just briefed the team with final instructions for launch |
| 6:18 a.m. | L-:04 | The NASA Launch Manager has conducted a final launch readiness poll to come out of the T-4 hold. All systems are go and mission is ready for an on-time launch. Countdown resumes at T-4 minutes |
| 6:20 a.m. | L-:02 | T-2 minutes and counting |
| 6:21 a.m. | L-:01 | T-60 second. The range is cleared for launch |
| 6:22 a.m. | liftoff | T-10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1 ... and liftoff of the NOAA-N mission from the Vandenberg Air Force Base! |
| into the flight | ||
| 6:22 a.m. | :00 | The Boeing Delta II is now already past Mach 1, and is looking good |
| 6:23 a.m. | :01 | Solid rocket motor jettison confirmed |
| 6:24 a.m. | :02 | The Boeing Delta II is now at an altitude of 24 miles, it's 9.9 miles downrange and it's traveling at 2,400 mph |
| 6:26 a.m. | :04 | First stage systems are performing as expected... and Main Engine Cut Off (MECO). MECO happens when the booster propellants are depleted |
| 6:26 a.m. | :05 | Real-time telemetry data relayed through NASA's Tracking and Date Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) starting about five minutes after launch |
| 6:28 a.m. | :06 | The Boeing Delta II is now at an altitude of 100 nautical miles. It's traveling at a speed of 11,700 mph |
| 6:33 a.m. | :11 | Confirmation of second stage engine's cutoff (SECO) |
| 6:37 a.m. | :15 | The NOAA-N mission is now in flight since 14 minutes and 38 seconds |
| 6:38 a.m. | :16 | The second stage with the NOAA-N spacecraft is now traveling over the South Pole, as it's currently out of communication. Regaining a signal is expected in a few minutes when the mission will reach the coast of South Africa |
| 6:48 a.m. | :26 | The NOAA-N mission has launched since 28 minutes. All parameters are nominal. The craft is acquired by the McMurdo Sound ground station, Antarctica |
| 6:53 a.m. | :31 | The second stage and the payload are beginning now an unpowered "coast phase", which is going to last during 15 minutes |
| 7:11 a.m. | :48:38 | Waiting now to receive spacecraft signal from the Hartebeesthoek tracking station in South Africa |
| 7:13 a.m. | :51 | Signal is reacquired, the telemetry lab has reported |
| 7:19 a.m. | :57 | The NOAA-N signal has now switched to the next tracking station (the Malindi Tracking station in Kenya). They are now confirming that they are getting the craft's signal |
| 7:20 a.m. | :58 | Both Hartebeesthoek and Malindi are to provide data about the re-start and burn of the second stage. It's Malindi, Kenya which will confirm the spacecraft separation |
| 7:23 a.m. | 01:01 | second stage engine's cutoff 2 (SECO II) is confirmed after re-ignition of the engine |
| 7:27 a.m. | 01:05 | Spacecraft separation of NOAA-N from the second stage! |
| 7:44 a.m. | 01:22 | Deployment of NOAA-N's power-generating solar arrays confirmed |
| 7:45 a.m. | 01:24 | 1 hour and 24 minutes since liftoff. All systems are performing nominally. The spacecraft appears to be in a near-perfect orbit! Mission successfull! |
| 7:45 a.m. | 01:26 | The craft is acquired by the NOAA Fairbanks Station, Alaska. A nominal spacecraft power system was confirmed. NOAA-N is now achieving orbit. It's renamed NOAA-18 |
