Re: Lunch Preparations underway.... Global Positioning System 2R-M1 satellite -READY

Sam Wormley wrote: 
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d313a/status.html

The Terminal Countdown is now underway for tonight's launch of the
Delta 2 rocket and the Global Positioning System 2R-M1 satellite.
The next three hours will be spent fueling the rocket, activating
systems and performing final testing before liftoff at 11:37 p.m. EDT
(0337 GMT) from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The Complex 17 area is verified cleared of workers. A warning horn
will be sounded three times at the seaside complex as a precaution
to alert any remaining personnel in the vicinity that they should
leave immediately.

Follow the "play-by-play"
  http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d313a/status.html


0323 GMT (11:23 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final
planned hold point for tonight's launch attempt. During this planned
10-minute hold, officials will poll the various team members in the
soft blockhouse, Range Operations Control Center and Mission Directors
Center. If all systems are "go," the countdown will resume for liftoff
at 11:37 p.m. EDT (0337 GMT).

0321 GMT (11:21 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The Air Force launch weather officer says conditions are "go" for
liftoff tonight.

0320 GMT (11:20 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The liquid oxygen tank is being topped off to 100 percent.

0318 GMT (11:18 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The spacecraft safe and arm devices are armed.

0317 GMT (11:17 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 10 minutes and counting. The Lockheed Martin-built GPS
spacecraft payload is now confirmed to be on internal battery power for
flight.

0315 GMT (11:15 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The Range safety checks have been completed. Data analysis is underway.

0313 GMT (11:13 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Inhibited checks are now beginning for the Range Safety command
destruct receivers that would be used in destroying the Delta rocket
should the vehicle veer off course and malfunction during the launch.

0312 GMT (11:12 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The GPS 2R-M1 spacecraft cargo atop the Delta 2 rocket is now switching
to internal power for launch.

0307 GMT (11:07 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The planned hold in the countdown has
been released. Clocks will now tick down to T-minus 4 minutes where the
final hold is scheduled.

0303 GMT (11:03 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team has been polled for "ready" status to resume the
countdown. The clocks will resume counting at the end of the hold as
scheduled.

0257 GMT (10:57 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Now half-way through this built-in hold at T-minus 20 minutes. Launch
team and management polls will be coming up shortly. Once the countdown
resumes, clocks will tick down to the T-minus 4 minute mark where a
10-minute hold is planned.

0247 GMT (10:47 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the 20-minute
built-in hold. This pause is designed to give the launch team a chance
to work any problems or catch up on activities that might be running
behind schedule. Engineers will also have time to examine all the data
from the just-completed steering tests.

0245 GMT (10:45 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The first stage steering checks are finished. Coming up on the T-minus
20 minute hold.

0241 GMT (10:41 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The second stage engine slews have been completed.

0239 GMT (10:39 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team is beginning the "slew" or steering checks of the first
and second stage engines. These are gimbal tests of the nozzles on the
first stage main engine and twin vernier engines and second stage
engine to ensure the rocket will be able to steer itself during launch.

0232 GMT (10:32 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Coming up in about five minutes, engine steering tests will be
conducted on the Delta 2 launch vehicle.

0219 GMT (10:19 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been
completed. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to
replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away. The
operation took 26 minutes and 11 seconds tonight.

The rocket is now fully fueled for launch. The vehicle's first stage
was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel along with the liquid
oxygen over the past hour. The second stage was filled with its
storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels a few days ago. The
nine strap-on booster rockets and third stage use solid-propellants.

0213 GMT (10:13 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Now passing the 20-minute mark of this approximate 25-minute cryogenic
tanking process for the Delta rocket's first stage.

Once the liquid oxygen tank reaches the 95 percent full level, the
"rapid load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will
continue to fill the tank.

0207 GMT (10:07 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The countdown is entering the final 90 minutes to launch.

0203 GMT (10:03 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Now 10 minutes into liquid oxygen loading. The bottom of the Boeing
Delta 2 rocket is icing over as the super-cold liquid oxygen continues
to flow into the first stage.

0153 GMT (9:53 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Super-cold liquid oxygen is beginning to flow into the first stage of
the Boeing Delta 2 rocket as the countdown continues for tonight's
11:37 p.m. EDT (0337 GMT) launch.

The liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, is being pumped from
a storage tank at pad 17A, through plumbing and into the bottom of the
rocket. The LOX and the RP-1 kerosene fuel -- loaded aboard the vehicle
in the past hour -- will be consumed by the first stage main engine.

0149 GMT (9:49 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team has received approval to begin preps for loading the
first stage liquid oxygen tank.

0142 GMT (9:42 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team has completed work to turn on and configure the Delta's
onboard guidance computer -- called the Redundant Inertial Flight
Control Assembly, or RIFCA.

0136 GMT (9:36 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch weather officer has completed his briefing to the management
team in advance of loading liquid oxygen into the Delta 2 rocket's
first stage. All conditions are acceptable at this time and there's an
80 percent chance of favorable weather during tonight's launch window
extending from 11:37 p.m. to 12:05 a.m. EDT. Clouds and rainshowers
drifting over the pad from the Atlantic Ocean pose the only worry
tonight.

0124 GMT (9:24 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The first stage fuel tank of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket has been fully
loaded for tonight's planned 11:37 p.m. launch. The tank was filled
with a highly refined kerosene, called RP-1, during a 19-minute,
10-second process that concluded at 9:24:25 p.m. EDT.

The next major task in the count will be loading super-cold cryogenic
liquid oxygen into the first stage starting just before 10 p.m.

0122 GMT (9:22 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Rapid-loading of the RP-1 tank has concluded as 9,800 gallons have been
pumped into the rocket. Fine load is continuing.

0117 GMT (9:17 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team has computed that the full load for the first stage
fuel tank is 9,971 gallons.

Once the tank is filled to 98 percent or 9,770 gallons, the "rapid
load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will
continue to top off the tank.

0115 GMT (9:15 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Now 10 minutes, or half-way, through this 20-minute process to load the
rocket's first stage with kerosene fuel. Some 6,000 gallons have been
loaded to this point.

The propellant will be used along with liquid oxygen -- to be pumped
into the rocket a little later -- by the first stage Rocketdyne RS-27A
main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters during the initial
four-and-a-half minutes of flight.

0105 GMT (9:05 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Fueling of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage has begun for tonight's
launch. About 10,000 gallons of a highly refined kerosene propellant,
called RP-1, are being pumped into the base of the rocket from a
storage tank at pad 17A.

0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Preparations for loading the Delta 2 rocket's first stage RP-1 fuel
tank are beginning. After verifying valves, sensors, flow meters and
equipment are ready, the highly-refined kerosene fuel will start
flowing into the vehicle a few minutes from now.

0040 GMT (8:40 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Activation of the rocket's guidance system is starting.

0037 GMT (8:37 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 150 minutes and counting. The Terminal Countdown is now
underway for tonight's launch of the Delta 2 rocket and the Global
Positioning System 2R-M1 satellite. The next three hours will be spent
fueling the rocket, activating systems and performing final testing
before liftoff at 11:37 p.m. EDT (0337 GMT) from pad 17A at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The Complex 17 area is verified cleared of workers. A warning horn will
be sounded three times at the seaside complex as a precaution to alert
any remaining personnel in the vicinity that they should leave
immediately.

The pad clear status will allow the start of hazardous operations such
as the pressurization of helium and nitrogen storage tanks inside the
rocket's first and second stages, along with the second stage fuel and
oxidizer tanks.

The countdown currently stands at T-minus 150 minutes. However, there
are a pair of holds -- totaling 30 minutes in duration -- planned at
T-minus 20 minutes and T-minus 4 minutes.

0028 GMT (8:28 p.m. EDT Sun.)

The launch team members have been polled for a "ready" status to resume
the countdown as planned at the end of this hold. No issues were
reported. Clocks will start ticking again at 8:37 p.m. EDT as the
Terminal Countdown begins.

0005 GMT (8:05 p.m. EDT Sun.)

We have posted a gallery of pictures taken by Boeing photographer
Carleton Bailie from this afternoon's rollback of the mobile service
tower at launch pad 17A. See the pictures here.

2337 GMT (7:37 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 150 minutes and holding. Clocks are entering a planned
60-minute built-in hold in the countdown. Holds are scheduled into the
count to give workers a chance to catch up on any activities that may
be running behind.

Over the next hour, all launch team members and management officials
will be seated at their consoles. A series of polls will be conducted
to verify everyone is ready to enter Terminal Count at end of the
built-in hold.

Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket remains scheduled for 11:37 p.m. EDT from
Cape Canaveral, Florida.

2315 GMT (7:15 p.m. EDT)

The sun is setting and the bright lights of launch pad 17A are coming
on. Countdown preps continue to go well, a Boeing spokesperson says.

2237 GMT (6:37 p.m. EDT)

Five hours and counting. The launch team is gathering inside the
control center at Cape Canaveral. A readiness poll of the members will
be conducted shortly before 8:30 p.m. in advance of starting the
Terminal Countdown.

2220 GMT (6:20 p.m. EDT)

The launch weather forecast has improved to an 80 percent chance of
acceptable conditions for this evening's liftoff. Earlier forecasts
predicted a 70 percent chance.

"Surface and upper level high pressure centered well north of the state
will be the main influence on local weather conditions today. Onshore
flow and an isolated coastal shower may develop during the countdown.
Launch window concerns will be westward moving cumulus clouds and
showers over the near coastal waters," the weather team reported today.

The launch time forecast calls for scattered cumulus clouds at 3,000
feet, scattered cirrus clouds at 25,000 feet, visibility of 10 miles,
easterly winds at 10 gusting to 15 knots, a temperature of 78-80
degrees F and showers in the vicinity.

2137 GMT (5:37 p.m. EDT)

The countdown is now entering its final six hours to launch of a Boeing
Delta 2 rocket and the GPS satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Work
continues at pad 17A to configure the launch complex for fueling the
rocket and launch.

2105 GMT (5:05 p.m. EDT)

A Boeing spokesman says all systems remain "go" for tonight's 11:37
p.m. EDT launch of the Delta 2 rocket and GPS 2R-M1 satellite.

2020 GMT (4:20 p.m. EDT)

The mobile service tower is in motion right now, wheeling back to its
park position away from the Delta 2 rocket at pad 17A. The tower is
used to assemble the rocket on the pad and provide access for workers
during the booster's stay on the seaside complex.

Once the tower is fully retracted over the next few minutes, workers
will get the structure locked down and proceed with the other
activities to ready the pad for launch.

1610 GMT (12:10 p.m. EDT)

The Delta rocket is still set to fly tonight from Cape Canaveral.
Launch crews are gearing up to start the countdown this afternoon.

Watch this page for live updates throughout the evening's countdown and
launch.
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