NROL-101 - Atlas V 531 (AV-086) - CCAFS SLC-41 - 13.11.2020 22:32 UTC

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:14

Countdown Holding

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned hold point 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 5:24 p.m. EST (2224 UTC) from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral.

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:18

As the sun sets along Florida's Space Coast, we are headed towards a liftoff at 5:32 p.m. Weather remains stable and no technical issues are being addressed with the launch vehicle or pad systems.

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

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:20

This is Atlas Launch Control at T-minus 4 minutes and holding, with 8 minutes remaining in the built-in hold.

Today marks United Launch Alliance's 141st launch and our 29th for the National Reconnaissance Office. ULA is honored to further our national security partnership with the NRO by launching NROL-101, a payload designed, built and operated by the agency.

This national space asset supports NRO's overall national security mission to provide intelligence data to the United States' senior policy makers, the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.

[tnt22]

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:26

GO for Launch!

The ULA Launch Director Tom Heter III has confirmed that the Atlas V rocket is ready to fly and NRO Mission Director Col. Chad Davis has given final permission to launch. That concurrence was made following a readiness poll of the launch team by Launch Conductor Scott Barney that verified all systems are "go."

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:27

L-minus 5 minutes. Standing by to pick up the countdown clocks once again. The rocket, payload, ground infrastructure and weather are ready for launch.

[tnt22]

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:28

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 NROL-101. 

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:29

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The Atlas first stage liquid oxygen replenishment is being secured so that the tank can be pressurized for launch. And the ground pyrotechnics have been armed to release the vehicle from the launch pad at liftoff.

[tnt22]

11/14/2020 01:29 Stephen Clark

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The Atlas 5's first stage RP-1 and liquid oxygen tanks have pressurized. Both are confirmed at proper flight pressures.

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:30

T-minus 1 minute, 55 seconds. The start command has been issued to the launch sequencer. The sequencer will perform independent verifications of systems for the rest of the countdown, control the detachment of umbilicals and release the rocket from the pad at liftoff. 

The first stage RP-1 kerosene fuel and the liquid oxygen tanks have stepped up to proper pressure levels for flight and the Atlas and Centaur stages have switched from ground power to internal batteries. 
In the next few seconds, the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant topping to the Centaur upper stage will be secured and the tanks go be confirmed stable at flight pressures. 

[tnt22]

Nov 14, 2020 01:30

T-minus 80 seconds. The rocket's ordnance controller and the vehicle safety system have been armed. The flight software on the Atlas V is going active at this time.

[tnt22]

Flight SEQUENCE
Hr:Mn:Sc	Event	EST	UTC	ДМВ
00:00:03	RD-180 Engine Ignition	17:31:57	22:31:57	01:31:57
00:00:00	Reference time	17:32:00	22:32:00	01:32:00
00:00:01	Liftoff (Thrust to Weight > 1)	17:32:01	22:32:01	01:32:01
00:00:06	Begin Pitch/Yaw Maneuver	17:32:06	22:32:06	01:32:06
00:00:39	Mach 1	17:32:39	22:32:39	01:32:39
00:00:51	Maximum Dynamic Pressure	17:32:51	22:32:51	01:32:51
00:01:54	SRB Jettison	17:33:54	22:33:54	01:33:54
00:03:19	PLF Jettison	17:35:19	22:35:19	01:35:19
	All Times Are Approximate

[tnt22]

Зажигание!

[tnt22]

Пуск!!!

Nov 14, 2020 01:32

LIFTOFF!

Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on a national security space mission, lifting NROL-101 for the National Reconnaissance Office. And the vehicle has cleared the tower!

 Chris B - NSF @NASASpaceflight 20 мин. назад

LAUNCH! ULA Atlas V launches with NROL-101 from SLC-41.

(0:27)

[tnt22]

Звуковой барьер

[tnt22]

MaxQ

Nov 14, 2020 01:33

T+plus 60 seconds. Now one minute into flight.

Atlas V is powering through the dense lower atmosphere, having broken the sound barrier to go transonic and flown through the period of maximum aerodynamic forces. The GEM 63s have surpassed peak thrust as they continue to burn. 

[tnt22]

Выкл боковых ТТУ

Nov 14, 2020 01:33

T+plus 1 minute, 35 seconds. We have solid rocket booster burnout. The three GEM 63s have consumed nearly 300,000 pounds of propellant to augment the initial liftoff power of the Atlas V rocket.

[tnt22]

Отделение боковых ускорителей

Nov 14, 2020 01:34

SRB Separation

T+plus 2 minutes, 3 seconds. Solid rocket booster jettison is confirmed. All three of the Northrop Grumman-made solid rocket boosters have successfully separated from the Atlas V first stage, having completed their debut launch.
GEM 63s are a stepping-stone to GEM 63XL motors that will fly on our Vulcan Centaur rocket next year.

 Chris B - NSF @NASASpaceflight 20 мин

Solids overboard! Cool view...

(0:23)

[tnt22]

Сброс ГО

Nov 14, 2020 01:35

Fairing Separation

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Payload fairing jettison is confirmed from the edge of space. The two-halves of the RUAG Space-made composite shroud have separated following after ascent through the atmosphere. Also, the Centaur Forward Load Reactor, a two-piece deck that rings the upper stage to support the fairing during launch, has separated as planned.