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VIDEO: DAZZLING ONBOARD CAMERA FOOTAGE OF LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: DELTA 2 ROCKET BLASTS OFF WITH NRO PAYLOAD PLAY
VIDEO: PAD GANTRY ROLLED BACK ON LAUNCH MORNING PLAY
VIDEO: DELTA 2 ROCKET BEING ASSEMBLED ON THE PAD PLAY
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2006

"The United Launch Alliance team is proud and honored to complete this first mission for our government customer," said Mike Gass, president and chief executive officer of ULA. "Today we begin a new era in assured access to space. This is the first ULA Delta launch, but it's the 322nd Delta launch since the first one in 1960. ULA continues two highly successful American launch lines that between them have flown more than 850 times. We are committed to sustaining this outstanding record of reliability, only more effectively and affordably as the two lines are integrated over time."

2200 GMT (5:00 p.m. EST; 2:00 p.m. PST)

This marks the 71st consecutive successful flight by a Delta 2 rocket since 1997 and the 124th success overall in the 126-flight history of the workhorse booster dating back to 1989.

And United Launch Alliance joint venture between the Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket programs has started in successful fashion.

2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST; 1:59 p.m. PST)

Handshakes and celebrations happening in the control room.

2158 GMT (4:58 p.m. EST; 1:58 p.m. PST)

T+plus 58 minutes, 2 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The clandestine spacecraft payload for the National Reconnaissance Office's NRO L-21 mission has been released from the Delta 2 rocket's second stage, completing today's launch.

2156 GMT (4:56 p.m. EST; 1:56 p.m. PST)

T+plus 56 minutes, 50 seconds. That was a good burn of the second stage. The orbit achieved matches the planned target.

2155 GMT (4:55 p.m. EST; 1:55 p.m. PST)

T+plus 55 minutes, 30 seconds. SECO 2. The Delta rocket's second stage has performed its brief engine burn. Deployment of the NRO payload is less than three minutes away.

2155 GMT (4:55 p.m. EST; 1:55 p.m. PST)

T+plus 55 minutes, 10 seconds. Diego Garcia is tracking the rocket.

2154 GMT (4:54 p.m. EST; 1:54 p.m. PST)

T+plus 54 minutes, 15 seconds. About one minute left until the burn. The second stage engine will fire for just 5.5 seconds.

2151 GMT (4:51 p.m. EST; 1:51 p.m. PST)

T+plus 51 minutes. The vehicle should be in the engine re-start orientation now as it soars over the Indian Ocean. Standing by for acquisition of signal through Diego Garcia.

2149 GMT (4:49 p.m. EST; 1:49 p.m. PST)

T+plus 49 minutes. The rocket should be ending the BBQ roll and starting maneuvers to the proper orientation for the engine re-start. Since the vehicle is out of range from any tracking station, real-time confirmation is not possible.

2142 GMT (4:42 p.m. EST; 1:42 p.m. PST)

T+plus 42 minutes. This upcoming engine firing will put the vehicle into a more circular orbit than the current parking orbit. The target is 203 nautical miles at apogee, 191 miles at perigee and inclined 58.5 degrees.

2137 GMT (4:37 p.m. EST; 1:37 p.m. PST)

T+plus 37 minutes. The rocket has flown out of the KING's tracking zone. The next telemetry station will be Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Confirmation has been received that the parking orbit is right on target. The vehicle reached the correct altitude as planned.

2135 GMT (4:35 p.m. EST; 1:35 p.m. PST)

T+plus 35 minutes. A map of the rocket's flight path is available here.

2132 GMT (4:32 p.m. EST; 1:32 p.m. PST)

T+plus 32 minutes. Vehicle telemetry is being received via the KING deployable downrange station. The rocket continues in its normal coast mode.

2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST; 1:30 p.m. PST)

T+plus 30 minutes. As the rocket coasts in this parking orbit, the second stage performs a "BBQ roll" maneuver to keep the thermal conditions on the vehicle equal. This maneuver was scheduled to start at about T+plus 20 minutes, 20 seconds and conclude at T+plus 48 minutes, 30 seconds.

2125 GMT (4:25 p.m. EST; 1:25 p.m. PST)

T+plus 25 minutes. This parking orbit should be 202 nautical miles at apogee, 100 miles at perigee and inclined 58.6 degrees. The precise altitudes achieved were not confirmed in real-time.

2120 GMT (4:20 p.m. EST; 1:20 p.m. PST)

T+plus 20 minutes. The rocket is coasting until the second stage restarts its engine at T+plus 55 minutes for a five-second firing. Deployment of NRO payload from the launch vehicle is expected 57 minutes, 50 seconds after liftoff.

2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST; 1:15 p.m. PST)

T+plus 15 minutes. The rocket has passed out of range from the tracking plane. This creates a data blackout until the vehicle's signal is acquired about 13 minutes from now from the next telemetry zone.

2114 GMT (4:14 p.m. EST; 1:14 p.m. PST)

T+plus 14 minutes. The Range liftoff time was 2100:00.647 GMT.

2111 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST; 1:11 p.m. PST)

T+plus 11 minutes, 30 seconds. SECO 1 now confirmed. The second stage engine cut off a short time ago, completing its first firing of the launch. The rocket has reached an initial parking orbit around Earth.

2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST; 1:10 p.m. PST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 15 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket is 1,224 miles south from the launch pad and traveling at 15,500 mph.

2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST; 1:10 p.m. PST)

T+plus 10 minutes. Second stage chamber pressure looks good.

2109 GMT (4:09 p.m. EST; 1:09 p.m. PST)

T+plus 9 minutes. About two minutes remain in this burn of the second stage engine to achieve the intended parking orbit.

2108 GMT (4:08 p.m. EST; 1:08 p.m. PST)

T+plus 8 minutes, 40 seconds. The "Big Crow" tracking aircraft over the Pacific has acquired the rocket's telemetry signal as the Delta flies beyond Vandenberg's horizon.

2107 GMT (4:07 p.m. EST; 1:07 p.m. PST)

T+plus 7 minutes, 45 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket is 107 miles in altitude, 741 miles downrange, traveling over 13,000 mph.

2107 GMT (4:07 p.m. EST; 1:07 p.m. PST)

T+plus 7 minutes, 10 seconds. Second stage engine performance reported normal.

2106 GMT (4:06 p.m. EST; 1:06 p.m. PST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 10 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket is 100 miles in altitude, 467 miles downrange, traveling over 11,800 mph.

2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST; 1:05 p.m. PST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket is 92 miles in altitude, 340 miles downrange, traveling over 11,329 mph.

2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST; 1:05 p.m. PST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 2 seconds. The rocket's nose cone enclosing the spacecraft has been jettisoned.

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST; 1:04 p.m. PST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 45 seconds. The Delta's second stage engine has ignited!

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST; 1:04 p.m. PST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 35 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff is confirmed, and the spent stage has been jettisoned!

2104 GMT (4:04 p.m. EST; 1:04 p.m. PST)

T+plus 4 minutes. First stage performance is looking good.

2103 GMT (4:03 p.m. EST; 1:03 p.m. PST)

T+plus 3 minutes. The first stage main engine continues to burn normally. The Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne powerplant consumes kerosene fuel and liquid oxygen to produce about 200,000 pounds of thrust.

2102 GMT (4:02 p.m. EST; 1:02 p.m. PST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 35 seconds. The vehicle is 40 miles in altitude and traveling at 4,000 mph.

2102 GMT (4:02 p.m. EST; 1:02 p.m. PST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 15 seconds. The three air-ignited solid rocket boosters have burned out and separated. The rocket is now flying solely on the power generated by the liquid-fueled first stage main engine.

2101 GMT (4:01 p.m. EST; 1:01 p.m. PST)

T+plus 1 minute, 45 seconds. Each of the Alliant Techsystems-made boosters generate roughly 100,000 pounds of thrust.

2101 GMT (4:01 p.m. EST; 1:01 p.m. PST)

T+plus 1 minute, 30 seconds. The solid boosters ignited on the launch pad have jettisoned from the first stage. They remained attached until the rocket cleared off-shore oil rigs.

2101 GMT (4:01 p.m. EST; 1:01 p.m. PST)

T+plus 1 minute, 11 seconds. All six ground-start solid rocket boosters have burned out of propellant. And the three remaining motors strapped to rocket ignited to continue assisting the rocket's RS-27A main engine on the push to space.

2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST; 1:00 p.m. PST)

T+plus 50 seconds. The rocket has flown through the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure in the lower atmosphere. The first stage continues to burn well.

2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST; 1:00 p.m. PST)

T+plus 35 seconds. Speed now Mach 1.

2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST; 1:00 p.m. PST)

T+plus 15 seconds. The main engine and six ground-lit solid motors are burning as the rocket maneuvers to the proper heading for its southerly flight downrange over the Pacific.

2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST; 1:00 p.m. PST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket on the maiden space mission for United Launch Alliance. And the vehicle has cleared the tower!

2059 GMT (3:59 p.m. EST; 12:59 p.m. PST)

T-minus 30 seconds. SRB ignitors will be armed at T-minus 11 seconds.

The launch ignition sequence will begin at T-minus 2 seconds when an engineer triggers the engine start switch. The process begins with ignition of the two vernier thrusters and first stage main engine start. The six ground-lit solid rocket motors then light at T-0 for liftoff.

2059 GMT (3:59 p.m. EST; 12:59 p.m. PST)

T-minus 1 minute. The Delta 2 rocket's second stage hydraulic pump has gone to internal power after its pressures were verified acceptable.

2058 GMT (3:58 p.m. EST; 12:58 p.m. PST)

T-minus 70 seconds. The Range has given its final clear-to-launch.

2058 GMT (3:58 p.m. EST; 12:58 p.m. PST)

T-minus 1 minute, 45 seconds. The launch pad water suppression system is being activated.

2058 GMT (3:58 p.m. EST; 12:58 p.m. PST)

T-minus 2 minutes. The first stage liquid oxygen vents are now being closed so the LOX tank can be pressurized for launch. Puffs of vapor from a relief valve on the rocket will be seen in the remainder of the countdown as the tank pressure stabilizes.

2057 GMT (3:57 p.m. EST; 12:57 p.m. PST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The payload has been declared "go" for launch.

2057 GMT (3:57 p.m. EST; 12:57 p.m. PST)

T-minus 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Vehicle ordnance is being armed.

2057 GMT (3:57 p.m. EST; 12:57 p.m. PST)

T-minus 3 minutes.

2056 GMT (3:56 p.m. EST; 12:56 p.m. PST)

T-minus 3 minutes, 45 seconds and counting. The Delta 2 rocket's systems are now transferring to internal power for launch. And the launch pad water system is being enabled.

2056 GMT (3:56 p.m. EST; 12:56 p.m. PST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting! Clocks are ticking down the final moments for liftoff of Delta 322 on the NRO L-21 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Launch is set for 1 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

2055 GMT (3:55 p.m. EST; 12:55 p.m. PST)

Liftoff in five minutes. All systems remain "go."

2054 GMT (3:54 p.m. EST; 12:54 p.m. PST)

Two minutes are remaining before the countdown resumes.

2052 GMT (3:52 p.m. EST; 12:52 p.m. PST)

The launch team has been polled and no problems were voiced. Now eight minutes from launch.

2051 GMT (3:51 p.m. EST; 12:51 p.m. PST)

Final pre-flight poll of the launch team is underway to confirm all systems are "go" to resume the countdown for liftoff.

2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST; 12:50 p.m. PST)

Now just 10 minutes from this history-making first liftoff for United Launch Alliance, the new organization that has combined the Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket programs. Today's flight of the Delta 2 rocket will deliver into orbit a secret spacecraft for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency.

2046 GMT (3:46 p.m. EST; 12:46 p.m. PST)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned built-in hold. This is a scheduled 10-minute pause leading to today's liftoff at 1 p.m. local time for the Delta 2 rocket and NRO L-21 payload.

During the hold, officials will poll the various team members in the "soft blockhouse," Range Operations Control Center and Mission Directors Center.

It is windy at the launch site but the weather officer says conditions are "go" for liftoff.

2041 GMT (3:41 p.m. EST; 12:41 p.m. PST)

The first stage kerosene fuel tank is being pressurized for launch.

2040 GMT (3:40 p.m. EST; 12:40 p.m. PST)

Now 20 minutes from launch.

2033 GMT (3:33 p.m. EST; 12:33 p.m. PST)

Weather conditions remain "go" for launch.

2031 GMT (3:31 p.m. EST; 12:31 p.m. PST)

The first stage engine steering checks are complete.

2030 GMT (3:30 p.m. EST; 12:30 p.m. PST)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The countdown is proceeding smoothly for today's launch. Clocks are ticking toward a planned 10-minute built-in hold at the T-minus 4 minute mark.

2027 GMT (3:27 p.m. EST; 12:27 p.m. PST)

The second stage engine slews are complete. First stage tests have begun.

2025 GMT (3:25 p.m. EST; 12:25 p.m. PST)

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

2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EST; 12:20 p.m. PST)

Over the next few minutes, the "slew" or steering checks of the first and second stage engines will be performed. And the RF link tests between the Range and rocket are scheduled.

2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST; 12:15 p.m. PST)

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 or malfunction during the launch.

2008 GMT (3:08 p.m. EST; 12:08 p.m. PST)

Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank was completed at 2008 GMT. The operation took 23 minutes and 54 seconds today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

The rocket is now fully fueled for launch. The vehicle's first stage was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel earlier today. The second stage was filled with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels prior to the countdown. And the nine strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.

2005 GMT (3:05 p.m. EST; 12:05 p.m. PST)

The rocket's guidance system activation is reported complete.

2004 GMT (3:04 p.m. EST; 12:04 p.m. PST)

Liquid oxygen loading has been underway for 20 minutes. Once the first stage tank is 95 percent full, the "rapid load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will continue to fill the rocket.

2000 GMT (3:00 p.m. EST; 12:00 p.m. PST)

Now one hour away from the scheduled liftoff time for the Delta 2 rocket from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base along the central coastline of California. The base is located about half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The rocket will head southward and its contrail should be visible to Southern California.

1953 GMT (2:53 p.m. EST; 11:53 a.m. PST)

This process to fill the first stage liquid oxygen tank will take approximately 25 minutes.

1946 GMT (2:46 p.m. EST; 11:46 a.m. PST)

The C-band beacon checks are complete. The system is used by the Range to track the Delta 2 rocket during launch.

1944 GMT (2:44 p.m. EST; 11:44 a.m. PST)

Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, has started flowing from a 28,000-gallon storage tank at Space Launch Complex 2-West, through plumbing and into the bottom of the Delta 2 rocket. The LOX will be consumed by the first stage main engine during the first four-and-a-half minutes of flight along with the 10,000 gallons of RP-1 kerosene already loaded aboard the vehicle.

1939 GMT (2:39 p.m. EST; 11:39 a.m. PST)

The launch team has a "go" to begin preparations for loading the rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank.

1933 GMT (2:33 p.m. EST; 11:33 a.m. PST)

Weather conditions are looking good for launch time today. Meanwhile, the launch team is awaiting approval to start loading liquid oxygen into the rocket's first stage.

1915 GMT (2:15 p.m. EST; 11:15 a.m. PST)

Here's some stats on this launch:

• The 322nd Delta rocket launch since 1960
• The 9th of 2006, including Delta 2 and Delta 4 missions
• The 126th Delta 2 rocket mission since 1989
• The 6th Delta 2 this year
• The first NRO payload on a Delta 2 from Vandenberg
• And United Launch Alliance's first rocket flight

1902 GMT (2:02 p.m. EST; 11:02 a.m. PST)

The first stage fuel tank of the ULA Delta 2 rocket has been fully loaded for launch. The tank was filled with a highly refined kerosene, called RP-1.

The next major task in the count will be loading super-cold cryogenic liquid oxygen into the first stage starting in about 30 minutes.

The kerosene and liquid oxygen will be consumed by the stage's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and twin vernier steering thrusters during the initial four-and-a-half minutes of flight.

1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST; 11:00 a.m. PST)

Launch time is now two hours away.

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

1857 GMT (1:57 p.m. EST; 10:57 a.m. PST)

The launch team has computed that the full load for the first stage fuel tank will be 9,970 gallons.

Once the tank is filled to 98 percent or 9,800 gallons, the "rapid load" valve will be closed and the slower "fine load" phase will continue to top off the tank.

1854 GMT (1:54 p.m. EST; 10:54 a.m. PST)

Fueling has been underway for 10 minutes. The tank is about 60 percent full.

1849 GMT (1:49 p.m. EST; 10:49 a.m. PST)

First stage propellant loading has passed the 3,000-gallon mark. This process takes about 20 minutes.

1844 GMT (1:44 p.m. EST; 10:44 a.m. PST)

FUELING STARTS. About 10,000 gallons of the kerosene propellant, called RP-1, are pumping into the base of the rocket from storage tanks at the pad as fueling of the Delta 2's first stage begins for today's launch.

1841 GMT (1:41 p.m. EST; 10:41 a.m. PST)

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.

1839 GMT (1:39 p.m. EST; 10:39 a.m. PST)

First stage pressurization is complete. Loading of kerosene propellant into the stage is coming up next.

1825 GMT (1:25 p.m. EST; 10:25 a.m. PST)

Activation of the rocket's Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly guidance computer is beginning now. And the launch team is starting pressurization steps for the first and second stage helium and nitrogen systems and second stage fuel tanks.

1820 GMT (1:20 p.m. EST; 10:20 a.m. PST)

BEGIN COUNT. The Terminal Countdown has been initiated for today's liftoff of the NRO L-21 classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office aboard the maiden United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket.

Liftoff is scheduled to occur at 1 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The site is on the Pacific coastline, about 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The vehicle will head southward as it climbs into orbit on a 58-minute flight to deploy its secret cargo.

The countdown clocks currently stand at T-minus 150 minutes and counting. There is one planned hold at the T-minus 4 minute point that will last 10 minutes in duration. Such a pause enables the launch team to catch up on any work running behind the timeline and officials to conduct final readiness polls before proceeding toward T-0 and liftoff.

1811 GMT (1:11 p.m. EST; 10:11 a.m. PST)

The launch team has been polled to ensure all stations are manned and systems are ready to proceed with the countdown today. No problems were voiced.

1805 GMT (1:05 p.m. EST; 10:05 a.m. PST)

"Man stations for Terminal Count." That was the message just announced to the launch team in preparation for starting the Terminal Countdown in 15 minutes. Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket remains on schedule for 1 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT).

1800 GMT (1:00 p.m. EST; 10:00 a.m. PST)

The countdown is in the midst of a planned hour-long hold. Twenty minutes remain in this hold. Polls will be conducted in the next few minutes to verify everyone is ready to enter into the Terminal Count at 10:20 a.m. local time (1:20 p.m. EST; 1820 GMT).

1742 GMT (12:42 p.m. EST; 9:42 a.m. PST)

When the pad gantry was rolled back this morning, the first United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket was revealed. ULA logos appear on the rocket and the pad's umbilical tower, as seen here.

1725 GMT (12:25 p.m. EST; 9:25 a.m. PST)

Launch day activities are in full swing at Vandenberg Air Force Base for today's flight of the ULA Delta 2 rocket carrying a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mobile service tower has been retracted and the launch team is preparing to enter the Terminal Countdown in the next hour.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2006

A secret spacecraft for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency will rocket into orbit Thursday afternoon from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base in a history-making launch.

Liftoff of the Delta 2 rocket is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) from the Space Launch Complex 2-West pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The 12-story booster's ascent will mark the first space mission for United Launch Alliance, a newly formed organization that brings together the Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket families.

The once-rival teams entered the joint venture on December 1.

"It's a small community in the launch business. We're all proud to be part of it," said Mike Gass, the ULA president and chief executive officer whose background is in Lockheed's Atlas and Titan programs. Now, he is at Vandenberg to oversee a Delta launch.

"The team makes you feel at home. It is a great group of professionals. We're all launch people; we all talk the same language."

ULA was created to combine the engineering, manufacturing and launch operations of the rocket programs in an effort to reduce costs.

The final launch readiness review was held Wednesday and only gusty winds were a concern going into the countdown. Forecasters predict a 40 percent chance that winds will prohibit an on-time liftoff.

"We're not working any launch vehicle issues. When you get to this time, you watch weather. (For) this launch, we'll be watching the winds, which way they're blowing, to make sure we don't have any safety concerns," Gass said in an interview Wednesday.

Meteorologists predict northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 knots, along with low stratus clouds, high cirrus, 7 miles of visibility and a temperature in the low 60s F. Similar conditions and odds of wind problems are forecast for Friday, too.

The Air Force has declined to say how long Thursday's launch window will remain open to get the rocket off the pad. Previously, officials said the liftoff would happen sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time. On Wednesday, the target 1 p.m. launch time was announced without further elaboration on the window duration.

The two-stage rocket is fitted with nine strap-on solid rocket motors and a 10-foot diameter composite nose cone for a configuration known as a 7920-10 Delta rocket. Spectators throughout the area could see the rocket's smokey contrail if weather conditions permit.

Within 11 minutes, the vehicle will settle into a parking orbit stretching 202 nautical miles at apogee, 100 miles at perigee and inclined 58.6 degrees. The trajectory heads south over the Pacific Ocean before crossing lower South America and the southern Atlantic. The second stage reignites its engine for five seconds above the Indian Ocean to reach an orbit of 203 by 191 miles inclined 58.5 degrees to the equator.

The payload is expected to be released from the rocket 57 minutes, 50 seconds after blastoff, completing ULA's first launch.