Delta II Launches NPP Spacecraft
10.28.11
George Diller/NASA Launch Commentator:
T-minus 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, main engines start, one, zero and liftoff of the Delta II with the NPP satellite. Blazing the way of new technology for climate research and weather forecast.
Steve Agid/Flight Commentator:
Good chamber pressure on the main engines.
Good chamber pressure on the three, correction, two verniers.
And good chamber pressure on all six ground-lit motors.
Passing 24 seconds into the flight.
Pressure beginning to trail off a little on the ground-lit solids as expected.
Coming up on the 33-second mark.
Mark, 33 seconds at Mach 1.
Vehicle now going transonic.
Approaching 40 seconds in.
Good stable chamber pressure in the main engine, the verniers and the ground (inaudible).
Coming up 48 seconds.
Mark, 48 seconds.
MaxQ. Maximum Dynamic Pressure in the vehicle.
Ten seconds now remaining until burnout of the six ground-lit motors.
And we're passing the one-minute mark.
Burnout. The six ground-lit motors.
And we have ignition on the three air-lit motors. Good ignition on the three motors, good chamber pressure, good symmetrical burn.
Standing by for separation of the ground-lit solids. About 10 seconds from now to assure a good water-impact point.
Matching one minute, 20 seconds. Standing by for ground solid jettison. And we see jettison.
Six motors have jettisoned.
Passing one minute, 36 seconds in.
Pressure now beginning to trail off on the air-lit motors.
One minute and 45 second mark.
Altitude now 17.8 nautical miles, downrange distance 2.4 nautical miles, velocity 2,587 mph.
Coming up one minute, 55 seconds.
Still looking good passing through Mach 5.
Two-minute mark. Ten seconds remaining on the air-lit motors.
Burnout of the air-lit motors.
Standing by for jettison.
We see jettison.
Passing two minutes, 22 seconds.
Altitude now 31.3 nautical miles, downrange distance 30.3 nautical miles, velocity 4,202 mph.
Two minutes, 35 seconds in.
Pressure holding very well in the main engine and in both verniers as we're passing two minutes and 45 seconds.
Looking down very nicely, very smooth ride.
Coming up on two minutes, 55 seconds passing through Mach 10.
Three minutes in.
Altitude now 42.0 nautical miles, downrange distance 72.4 nautical miles, velocity 5,794 mph.
George Diller/NASA Launch Commentator:
Data coming in through Santa Ynez Peak, north of Santa Barbara.
Steve Agid/Flight Commentator:
(Inaudible) Three minutes, 15 seconds. A little over one minute remaining in first-stage flight.
Chamber pressure continuing to hold very well in the main engine and in both verniers.
(Inaudible) control in the main engine very good very steady.
And vernier engine(Inaudible) looking good in both vernier engines.
Passing three minutes, 33 seconds.
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