Perseverance (Mars 2020 rover) - Atlas V 541 - Canaveral SLC-41 - 30.07.2020

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:04

The fuel fill sequence is beginning. This procedure releases RP-1 kerosene fuel into the RD-180 main engine in preparation for ignition.

Activities remain on pace for our liftoff this morning at 7:50 a.m. EDT (1150 UTC).

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:05

This launch uses the 541 version of the Atlas V rocket that will generate the necessary power to put Perseverance on the flight path to Mars.



This configuration of the Atlas V is distinguished by two stages, a five-meter-wide nose cone, four side-mounted solid-fuel boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. 

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will come off the pad on 2.3 million pounds of thrust produced by the RD-180 main engine and four solids. Today's version stands 197 feet tall. 

The 541 has flown six times before, including the launches of the Curiosity rover to Mars, three National Reconnaissance Office missions and the GOES-R and GOES-S geostationary weather satellites to serve the U.S.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:14

In the countdown, we have completed the fuel fill sequence to ready the first stage main propulsion system for launch. Standing by now to enter the final built-in hold of the countdown.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:16

Countdown Holding

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned 30-minute built-in hold designed to give a bit of margin to deal with any problems. Also during this time, the final readiness polls of the launch team and management members will be performed. 

We remain on schedule for a liftoff at 7:50 a.m. EDT (1150 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral. 

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:17

All three cryogenic tanks on the rocket have been topped off to flight level. That gives us a fully-fueled rocket to launch Mars 2020 today.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:21

Weather is GO

Weather is observed and forecast GO for liftoff a half-hour from now, according to the countdown's final planned briefing by weather officer Jessica Williams.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:26

The Automatic Determination and Dissemination of Just Updated Steering Terms, better known as the ADDJUST file, is being loaded into the Atlas V rocket's Inertial Navigation and Control Assembly (INCA) flight computer by the flight control operator here at the Launch Control Center. This is the planned steering parameters for the INCA to use based on today's upper level wind conditions.

A series of weather balloons has been launched throughout the countdown from the Range weather station at Cape Canaveral to collect measurements of wind speeds and directions to determine if conditions aloft violate the controllability or structural loads on the rocket during ascent. The balloon data was transmitted to ULA engineers in Denver to select a steering profile that minimizes launch vehicle responses.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:28

Winds Aloft GO

Upper level winds have been verified acceptable for launch at 7:50 a.m. EDT (1150 UTC) and green through the entire window.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:34

Communications channels here in the Launch Control Center are quiet as console operators monitor their systems during this built-in hold. No significant issues are being worked at the present time

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:38

Weather remains in our favor this morning, no technical issues are being addressed with the launch vehicle or pad systems and we are on schedule for a liftoff at 50 minutes past the hour.

At T-minus 4 minutes and holding, with 10 minutes remaining in the built-in hold, this is Atlas Launch Control.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:39

The Mars 2020 spacecraft atop the Atlas V rocket is transitioning to internal power for launch. This is the final configuring of the payload for liftoff.

[tnt22]

07/30/2020 14:40 Stephen Clark

A poll by NASA launch director Omar Baez resulted in a "go" to proceed with the launch. The minor earthquake that jolted Southern California a few minutes ago is not an issue for the Mars 2020 control center at JPL.

[tnt22]

07/30/2020 14:41 Stephen Clark

The Atlas 5's four strap-on solid rocket boosters are being prepared for arming.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:45

L-minus 5 minutes. Standing by to pick up the countdown clocks once again. The rocket, ground infrastructure and weather are ready for launch, and Mars 2020 is confirmed on internal power and configured.

[tnt22]

Jul 30, 2020 14:46

Countdown Resumes

T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The countdown clocks have resumed and the final phase of today's countdown is underway at Cape Canaveral to launch the Atlas V rocket and Mars 2020, sending the Perseverance rover to the red planet.

[tnt22]

07/30/2020 14:47 Stephen Clark

T-minus 3 minutes. The replenishment of liquid oxygen into the Atlas first stage, which kept the tank full as the cryogenic liquid boiled off in the warm Florida weather, has been ceased. This is a key step before pressurization of the liquid oxygen tank for launch.

[tnt22]

07/30/2020 14:48 Stephen Clark

T-minus 1 minute, 55 seconds. The Atlas 5's automatic launch sequencer has been initiated.

[tnt22]

07/30/2020 14:49 Stephen Clark

T-minus 60 seconds. Ignition of the Atlas 5's first stage RD-180 main engine will be commanded at T-minus 2.7 seconds.

[tnt22]

Зажигание!

[tnt22]

Пуск!!!

Jul 30, 2020 14:50

LIFTOFF!

Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launching NASA's Perseverance rover to Mars in search of ancient life on the red planet!

Chris B - NSF @NASASpaceflight 15 мин. назад

LAUNCH! ULA Atlas V 541 launches with the Perseverance, Mars 2020 Rover mission!
(0:24)

 NASA @NASA 1 ч. назад

We have LIFTOFF to Mars! The @ulalaunch Atlas V takes flight with our @NASAPersevere rover. The #CountdownToMars continues as Perseverance begins her 7-month journey to the Red Planet!
(0:44)