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VIDEO: THE DELTA 2 ROCKET LIFTS OFF WITH GPS 2R-16 PLAY
VIDEO: WIDE-SCREEN LAUNCH MOVIE FROM PRESS SITE PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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VIDEO: MOST RECENT GPS LAUNCH FROM SEPT. 25 PLAY
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2006

The 125th Boeing Delta 2 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Friday afternoon on another mission to replenish the satellite constellation of the Global Positioning System.

Read our full story.

"I'm extremely pleased with today's successful launch and the superb performance of the entire team that made it happen. Putting up a second GPS satellite in two months may seem easy, but this launch campaign presented unique challenges that were overcome with a lot of hard work, attention to detail, and a tremendous team effort between our GPS customer, the Boeing Company, the 45th Space Wing, the Aerospace Corporation, and the Launch and Range Systems Wing. I am very proud of the team and its achievement, which extends the string of successful launches by the Space and Missile Systems Center to 48," said Col. Jim Planeaux, today's mission director and commander of the Delta Launch Systems Group.

0015 GMT (7:15 p.m. EST Fri.)

Spectacular photos of today's launch taken by photographer Carleton Bailie are available here.

2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EST)

T+plus 68 minutes, 15 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! The U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System Block 2R-16 spacecraft has been released from the Boeing Delta 2 rocket's third stage to complete this afternoon's launch from Cape Canaveral.

The $75 million satellite is bound for the Plane B, Slot 4 location in the GPS constellation to replace the aging GPS 2A-22 craft launched in August 1993.

GPS 2R-16 is the third in a new breed of updated craft built by Lockheed Martin. The modernized satellites transmit additional signals and feature improvements aimed at greater accuracy, tougher resistance to interference and enhanced performance for users around the world.

The advancements will provide the military with a more robust jam-resistant signal and enable better targeting of GPS-guided weapons in hostile environments. The new civilian signal removes navigation errors caused by the Earth's ionosphere.

2018 GMT (3:18 p.m. EST)

T+plus 66 minutes, 12 seconds. The third stage has burned out of its solid fuel, ending the Delta 2 rocket's powered flight for the launch of the GPS 2R-16 spaeccraft. Separation of the payload is about two minutes away.

2017 GMT (3:17 p.m. EST)

T+plus 65 minutes, 40 seconds. Good chamber pressure on the third stage is reported.

2016 GMT (3:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 51 seconds. Third stage ignition! The Thiokol Star 48B motor is firing to propel the GPS 2R-16 satellite into its targeted orbit for this launch.

2016 GMT (3:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 64 minutes, 20 seconds. The solid-fueled third stage has spun up.

As the launch sequence continues with the third stage burn and subsequent deployment of the GPS 2R-16 satellite, the second stage will conduct one additional engine firing to deplete its remaining fuel supply and lower its orbital inclination. This is designed to minimize the amount of land that the stage flies over during its natural fall from orbit and future reentry.

2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST)

T+plus 63 minutes, 17 seconds. The second stage has completed its second burn of this launch. In the next minute, tiny thrusters on the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the vehicle in preparation for jettison of the second stage.

2014 GMT (3:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 62 minutes, 58 seconds. Confirmation now received that Delta 2 rocket's second stage burn is in progress to boost the vehicle into a higher orbit. The Guam tracking site is providing the live telemetry relay from the rocket back to Cape Canaveral.

2012 GMT (3:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 60 minutes. The Delta 2 rocket should be coming within the Guam tracking station's coverage zone in the next two minutes.

2002 GMT (3:02 p.m. EST)

T+plus 50 minutes. The rocket continues in the coast phase of the mission as it soars over the Indian Ocean.

1957 GMT (2:57 p.m. EST)

T+plus 45 minutes. The thermal conditioning roll of the rocket will end in about 11 minutes. Ignition of the second stage is up coming in 17 minutes.

1942 GMT (2:42 p.m. EST)

T+plus 30 minutes. The vehicle just passed out of range from the Ascension Island tracking site in the central Atlantic Ocean. The next station to acquire the rocket's signal will be Guam a half-hour from now.

As this coast phase of the launch continues, you can see a map of the rocket's planned track here.

1935 GMT (2:35 p.m. EST)

T+plus 23 minutes. Ascension Island is relaying data from the rocket to engineers at Cape Canaveral. The vehicle has entered the slow rolling motion designed to keep the thermal conditions even across the rocket.

1927 GMT (2:27 p.m. EST)

T+plus 15 minutes. Restart of second stage engine is expected at about T+plus 62 minutes, 29 seconds. The stage will fire for approximately 42 seconds to raise the orbit's high point, or apogee. That will be followed by separation between the second and third stages. The upper stage will burn to inject GPS into the intended transfer orbit. Deployment of the payload to complete the launch is expected at T+plus 68 minutes.

1926 GMT (2:26 p.m. EST)

T+plus 14 minutes. The rocket has flown out of range from the Antigua tracking station. The next site to acquire signal will be Ascension Island in about six minutes.

1924 GMT (2:24 p.m. EST)

T+plus 12 minutes, 45 seconds. The rocket has successfully achieved a parking orbit with an apogee of 110.04 miles, perigee of 93.988 miles and inclination of 37.50 degrees. That is right on the pre-planned orbit parameters.

1922 GMT (2:22 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 49 seconds. SECO 1. The second stage engine cutoff has occurred, completing the motor's first firing of the day. The Delta 2 rocket with GPS 2R-16 has arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth following launch today from Cape Canaveral. The vehicle will coast for about 52 minutes before the second stage is re-ignited.

1922 GMT (2:22 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes, 20 seconds. The rocket is 97.3 miles in altitude, 1,435 miles downrange from the launch pad and traveling at 16,200 mph.

1922 GMT (2:22 p.m. EST)

T+plus 10 minutes. About a minute left in this initial firing of the second stage.

1920 GMT (2:20 p.m. EST)

T+plus 8 minutes, 30 seconds. The second stage engine is still firing, consuming a hydrazine propellant mixture and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer. This burn is needed to achieve a parking orbit around Earth.

1919 GMT (2:19 p.m. EST)

T+plus 7 minutes, 50 seconds. Altitude now 94 miles, downrange distance 918 miles and speed 14,300 mph.

1918 GMT (2:18 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 45 seconds. The Air Force's downrange tracking station on Antigua Island has acquired the rocket's signal.

1918 GMT (2:18 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes, 20 seconds. The rocket is 84 miles in altitude, 642 miles downrange from the launch pad and traveling at 13,500 mph.

1918 GMT (2:18 p.m. EST)

T+plus 6 minutes. Good chamber pressure reported on the second stage engine.

1917 GMT (2:17 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 20 seconds. The rocket is 72 miles in altitude, 450 miles downrange from the launch pad and traveling over 13,000 mph.

1917 GMT (2:17 p.m. EST)

T+plus 5 minutes, 4 seconds. The rocket's nose cone enclosing the spacecraft has been jettisoned.

1916 GMT (2:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 43 seconds. The spent first stage has been jettisoned and the Delta's second stage engine has ignited!

1916 GMT (2:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes, 27 seconds. MECO. The first stage main engine cutoff is confirmed.

1916 GMT (2:16 p.m. EST)

T+plus 4 minutes. Coming up on first stage engine cutoff.

1915 GMT (2:15 p.m. EST)

T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The main engine is still firing normally.

1914 GMT (2:14 p.m. EST)

T+plus 2 minutes, 37 seconds. The vehicle is 30 miles in altitude, 85 miles downrange from the launch pad and traveling at 5,600 mph.

1914 GMT (2:14 p.m. EST)

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.

1913 GMT (2:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 45 seconds. A beautiful launch! The air-lit boosters continue to burn.

1913 GMT (2:13 p.m. EST)

T+plus 1 minute, 15 seconds. All six ground-start solid rocket boosters have burned out of propellant and separated from the Delta 2's first stage. A moment before the jettison occurred, the three remaining motors strapped to rocket ignited to continue assisting the rocket's RS-27A main engine on the push to space.

1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 56 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket has passed through the region of maximum aerodynamic pressure during its atmospheric ascent.

1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 40 seconds. The vehicle is now breaking through the sound barrier.

1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 30 seconds. The six solid rocket motors ignited on the launch pad have surpassed their period of maximum thrust. Each of the Alliant Techsystems-made boosters generate roughly 100,000 pounds of thrust.

1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)

T+plus 20 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket is rising into a clear blue Florida sky with all six ground-lit solid boosters and the first stage main engine firing.

1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the 125th Boeing Delta 2 rocket and another mission to replenish the satellite constellation for the Global Positioning System. And the vehicle has cleared the tower.

1911 GMT (2:11 p.m. EST)

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

The launch ignition sequence will begin in the final two seconds of the countdown when a Boeing engineer pushes the engine start switch. The process begins with ignition of the two vernier engines and first stage main engine start. The six ground-lit solid rocket motors then light at T-0 for liftoff.

1911 GMT (2:11 p.m. EST)

T-minus 1 minute. Sixty seconds from launch. The vehicle's second stage hydraulic pump has gone to internal power after its pressures were verified acceptable.

1910 GMT (2:10 p.m. EST)

T-minus 75 seconds. The Air Force's Eastern Range has given the all-clear to launch.

1910 GMT (2:10 p.m. EST)

T-minus 100 seconds. First stage LOX topping to 100 percent is underway.

1910 GMT (2:10 p.m. EST)

T-minus 2 minutes. Pressurization of the first stage liquid oxygen is now beginning. Puffs of vapor from a relief valve on the rocket will be seen in the remainder of the countdown as the tank pressure stabilizes.

1909 GMT (2:09 p.m. EST)

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

1909 GMT (2:09 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The rocket's third stage safe and arm devices are being armed.

1908 GMT (2:08 p.m. EST)

T-minus 3 minutes, 45 seconds. The Delta 2 rocket's systems are now transferring to internal power for launch.

1908 GMT (2:08 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and counting! The Delta 2 rocket is ready to launch the GPS 2R-16 military navigation satellite at 2:12 p.m. EST from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

1907 GMT (2:07 p.m. EST)

Standing by to resume the countdown in one minute. All systems are "go" for launch.

1906 GMT (2:06 p.m. EST)

The Air Force readiness poll has been conducted. Two minutes remain in the built-in hold.

1904 GMT (2:04 p.m. EST)

The launch team has been polled to give a "go" for liftoff. No constraints were voiced.

1902 GMT (2:02 p.m. EST)

Time to launch is 10 minutes. The spacecraft safe and arm devices are being armed.

1901 GMT (2:01 p.m. EST)

The safety system checks have been accomplished after the earlier delays. Everything appears set for launch today.

1858 GMT (1:58 p.m. EST)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the final planned hold point for this afternoon'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 2:12 p.m. EST (1912 GMT). The Range has been working a problem with the Antigua downrange tracking station. We'll be awaiting word if the situation is resolved for launch today.

1857 GMT (1:57 p.m. EST)

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.

1851 GMT (1:51 p.m. EST)

The Lockheed Martin-built GPS spacecraft payload is now confirmed to be on internal battery power for flight.

1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)

The Range continues to work a problem, which has delayed the safety system checks scheduled earlier in the countdown.

1848 GMT (1:48 p.m. EST)

The GPS 2R-16 spacecraft cargo atop the Delta 2 rocket is now switching to internal power for launch.

1847 GMT (1:47 p.m. EST)

T-minus 15 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.

1842 GMT (1:42 p.m. EST)

The launch team is being polled for "ready" status to resume the countdown at the end of the hold as scheduled.

1837 GMT (1:37 p.m. EST)

Now half-way through this built-in hold. 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.

And the weather officer reports all conditions remain acceptable for launch.

1827 GMT (1:27 p.m. EST)

T-minus 15 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the 20-minute built-in hold. The 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, such as the Range Safety checks. Engineers will also have time to examine all the data from the just-completed steering tests.

1822 GMT (1:22 p.m. EST)

The first stage steering checks are finished.

1818 GMT (1:18 p.m. EST)

The second stage engine slews have been completed.

1816 GMT (1:16 p.m. EST)

Technicians are 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.

1810 GMT (1:10 p.m. EST)

The launch team reports the safety system checks have been delayed a few minutes.

1800 GMT (1:00 p.m. EST)

Range Safety checks will be the next event in the countdown.

1755 GMT (12:55 p.m. EST)

Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been completed. The operation took 26 minutes and 28 seconds today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the supercold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

The rocket is now fully fueled for liftoff at 2:12 p.m. EST. The vehicle's first stage was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel along with the liquid oxygen over the past hour-and-a-half. 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.

1748 GMT (12:48 p.m. EST)

Once the first stage 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.

1742 GMT (12:42 p.m. EST)

Now 90 minutes to launch.

1738 GMT (12:38 p.m. EST)

Liquid oxygen loading is passing the 10-minute mark. The process should take about 25 minutes in total. No problems reported.

1728 GMT (12:28 p.m. EST)

Cryogenic liquid oxygen, chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, has started flowing from the storage reservoir at Complex 17, through plumbing and into the bottom of the Boeing 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.

1725 GMT (12:25 p.m. EST)

The official "go" has been given to start fill the rocket's first stage with liquid oxygen.

1723 GMT (12:23 p.m. EST)

Early preparations are beginning for first stage liquid oxygen loading.

1715 GMT (12:15 p.m. EST)

The launch team has completed work to turn on and configure the Delta's onboard guidance computer.

1710 GMT (12:10 p.m. EST)

The latest weather briefing indicates all conditions are great and expected to stay favorable for launch this afternoon. Skies are clear, the cold front has moved well south of the Cape, visibility is unrestricted, winds are averaging 12-14 knots from the northwest and the temperature is in the low 60s.

1700 GMT (12:00 p.m. EST)

A collection of images taken by photographer Carleton Bailie this morning during rollback of the mobile service tower to reveal the 125th Boeing Delta 2 rocket is available here.

1657 GMT (11:57 a.m. EST)

The first stage fuel tank of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket has been fully loaded for this afternoon's planned 2:12 p.m. launch. The tank was filled with a highly refined kerosene, called RP-1, during a 19-minute, 21-second process that concluded at 11:56 a.m. EST.

The next major task in the count will be loading super-cold cryogenic liquid oxygen into the first stage starting around 12:30 p.m.

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.

1654 GMT (11:54 a.m. EST)

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

1647 GMT (11:47 a.m. EST)

This process to load the rocket's first stage with kerosene fuel takes about 20 minutes.

1645 GMT (11:45 a.m. EST)

The launch team has computed that the full load for the first stage fuel tank is 10,007 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.

1642 GMT (11:42 a.m. EST)

The countdown is entering the final two-and-a-half hours to liftoff of the GPS 2R-16 spacecraft aboard the Boeing Delta 2 rocket. First stage propellant loading has passed the 3,000-gallon mark.

1637 GMT (11:37 a.m. EST)

About 10,000 gallons of the kerosene propellant, called RP-1, are pumping into the base of the rocket from storage tanks at pad 17A as fueling of the Delta 2's first stage begins for today's launch.

1633 GMT (11:33 a.m. EST)

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.

1632 GMT (11:32 a.m. EST)

First stage helium and nitrogen pressurization is complete. Now standing by for the start of fueling.

1620 GMT (11:20 a.m. EST)

The launch team has started activation of the rocket's Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly (RIFCA) guidance computer, as well as the pressurization steps for the first and second stage helium and nitrogen systems and second stage fuel tanks.

1612 GMT (11:12 a.m. EST)

T-minus 150 minutes and counting. The Terminal Countdown has commenced for launch of the 125th Delta 2 rocket and the Global Positioning System 2R-16 satellite.

The next three hours will be spent fueling the rocket, activating systems and performing final testing before liftoff at 2:12 p.m. EST (1912 GMT) from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Workers have cleared the Complex 17 area in advance of the hazardous portion in today's launch operation. But a warning horn is now being 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 activities such as pressurizing the helium and nitrogen storage tanks inside the rocket's first and second stages, along with the second stage fuel and oxidizer tanks.

The countdown clocks currently stand at T-minus 150 minutes. There are a pair of holds -- totaling 30 minutes in duration -- planned at T-minus 15 minutes and T-minus 4 minutes that will lead toward a T-0 and liftoff at the opening of today's 14-minute launch window.

1603 GMT (11:03 a.m. EST)

The launch team members were just polled to ensure all consoles are manned and systems are ready to begin the Terminal Countdown at 11:12 a.m. EST as scheduled.

1545 GMT (10:45 a.m. EST)

It is a beautiful day along Florida's Space Coast. Skies are clear, temperatures are cool and there's a light breeze. Weather appears perfect for a rocket launch.

1512 GMT (10:12 a.m. EST)

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 2:12 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

1330 GMT (8:30 a.m. EST)

Here's some stats on this launch:

• The 321st Delta rocket launch since 1960
• The 8th of 2006, including Delta 2 and Delta 4 missions
• The 125th Delta 2 rocket mission since 1989
• The 5th Delta 2 this year
• The 61st Delta 2 to fly in the 7925 configuration
• The 55th GPS satellite to launch
• The 44th time a Delta 2 has launched a GPS satellite
• The 16th GPS Block 2R satellite and 3rd modernized

1205 GMT (7:05 a.m. EST)

A 12-story Boeing Delta 2 rocket is poised for blastoff later today to deliver the Global Positioning System 2R-16 satellite into orbit. Rollback of the pad's mobile service tower occurred under clear skies at sunrise this morning, and ground crews are pressing ahead with the planned 2:12 p.m. EST liftoff.

This launch will be the second in two months to loft a replacement GPS spacecraft design to keep the orbiting constellation of satellites in good working condition.

"The entire team since that last launch has really put in a tremendous effort to get us here today, ready to fly again," Col. Jim Planeaux, the Air Force mission director, said at the pre-launch news conference this week.

"This being a repeat mission from the GPS (launch) earlier this year may seem like routine business as usual, but trust me, like any campaign, there's been a number of difficult issues we've had to work through. Each has presented unique challenges. They've been overcome by our team with a lot of hard work, a lot attention to detail and a lot of teamwork."

As the GPS satellite fleet ages in space, the Air Force launches fresh craft to ensure the network remains operational for military and civilian users around the globe. There are 29 healthy GPS satellites in orbit today. The GPS 2R-16 spacecraft will increase the tally to 30 when it enters service in mid-December.

The 4,500-pound craft is tucked inside the nose cone of the three-stage rocket for its ride to space. The launch will last 68 minutes from liftoff through deployment of the satellite.

The Lockheed Martin-built satellite is headed for an orbit 11,000 miles above Earth where it will fill a slot being vacated by a 13-year-old satellite that has lasted nearly double its design life.

"That particular satellite has been exhibiting some problems lately," Col. Allan Ballenger, commander of the Air Force's Global Positioning Systems Wing, said of the GPS 2A-22 spacecraft originally launched in August 1993.

GPS 2R-16 is bound for Plane B, Slot 4 of the GPS network, which is comprised of six orbital planes holding at least four satellites in each to cover the planet with precision navigation signals for users.

"With that being a primary slot in the constellation, we're anxious to go ahead and get this (new satellite) up there and make sure we have the primary slot covered," Ballenger said.

1145 GMT (6:45 a.m. EST)

Mother Nature is being a whole lot more cooperative at Cape Canaveral this morning than yesterday. Rain, high winds and cloudiness associated with a passing cold front have cleared the area, and the early countdown events are underway for today's launch of a Boeing Delta 2 rocket to place a new GPS satellite into orbit.

Retraction of the service gantry from around the Boeing Delta 2 rocket at pad 17A began a few minutes ago. Weather scrubbed yesterday's launch attempt before tower rollback even started.

The tower was used to stack the multi-stage vehicle atop the pad's launch mount, attach the nine strap-on solid motors and hoist the payload aboard the rocket. The tower also provided the primary weather protection and worker access to the rocket during its stay on the oceanside complex.

The next few hours will be spent configuring launch pad equipment and securing the site.

The Terminal Countdown begins at 11:12 a.m. EDT, followed about 20 minutes later by loading the first stage with kerosene propellant. Liquid oxygen starts flowing into the first stage around 12:30 p.m.

Read our earlier status center coverage.