Launch Sequence

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    Launch Sequence Diagram

    Launch Sequence Diagram

    Key events during launch are shown in the launch sequence diagram. The following are computer generated scenes depicted from the simulated Mars Science Laboratory launch (325 Mb).

    Launch Events (Atlas V 541)

    Launch Window 11/26/2011 (DOY 330), UTC 11/27/2011 (DOY 331), UTC 11/28/2011 (DOY 332), UTC
    Open Close Open Close Open Close
    T-Zero
    15:02:00
    00:00:00
    16:45:00
    00:00:00
    14:41:00
    00:00:00
    16:24:00
    00:00:00
    14:19:00
    00:00:00
    15:59:00
    00:00:00
    Liftoff 15:02:01
    00:00:01
    16:45:01
    00:00:01
    14:41:01
    00:00:01
    16:24:01
    00:00:01
    14:19:01
    00:00:01
    15:59:01
    00:00:01
    SRB Burnout
    15:03:33
    00:01:33
    16:46:33
    00:01:33
    14:42:33
    00:01:33
    16:25:33
    00:01:33
    14:20:33
    00:01:33
    16:00:33
    00:01:33
    SRB Jettison
    15:03:51
    00:01:51
    16:46:51
    00:01:51
    14:42:51
    00:01:51
    16:25:51
    00:01:51
    14:20:51
    00:01:51
    16:00:51
    00:01:51
    PLF Jettison
    15:05:25
    00:03:25
    16:48:25
    00:03:25
    14:44:25
    00:03:25
    16:27:25
    00:03:25
    14:22:25
    00:03:25
    16:02:25
    00:03:25
    BECO
    15:06:21
    00:04:21
    16:49:21
    00:04:21
    14:45:21
    00:04:21
    16:28:21
    00:04:21
    14:23:21
    00:04:21
    16:03:21
    00:04:21
    CCB Stage I Jettison
    15:06:27
    00:04:27
    16:49:27
    00:04:27
    14:45:27
    00:04:27
    16:28:27
    00:04:27
    14:23:27
    00:04:27
    16:03:27
    00:04:27
    MES1 15:06:37
    00:04:37
    16:49:37
    00:04:37
    14:45:37
    00:04:37
    16:28:37
    00:04:37
    14:23:37
    00:04:37
    16:03:37
    00:04:37
    MECO1 + Decay
    15:13:34
    00:11:34
    16:56:34
    00:11:34
    14:52:34
    00:11:34
    16:35:34
    00:11:34
    14:30:34
    00:11:34
    16:10:34
    00:11:34
    MES2
    15:34:24
    00:32:24
    17:12:01
    00:27:01
    15:14:33
    00:33:33
    16:52:10
    00:28:10
    14:53:53
    00:34:53
    16:28:10
    00:29:10
    MECO2 + Decay
    15:42:23
    00:40:23
    17:20:04
    00:35:04
    15:22:32
    00:41:32
    17:00:12
    00:36:12
    15:01:55
    00:42:55
    16:36:06
    00:37:06
    Start Turn
    to SEP Attitude
    15:42:25
    00:40:25
    17:20:06
    00:35:06
    15:22:34
    00:41:34
    17:00:14
    00:36:14
    15:01:57
    00:42:57
    16:36:08
    00:37:08
    Dongara Rise
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    15:03:47
    00:44:47
    -
    -
    Start Spin-Up to 2.5 rpm
    15:44:58
    00:42:58
    17:22:39
    00:37:39
    15:25:07
    00:44:07
    17:02:47
    00:38:47
    15:04:30
    00:45:30
    16:38:41
    00:39:41
    Dongara Rise
    15:45:39
    00:43:39
    -
    -
    15:25:10
    00:44:10
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    Spacecraft SEP
    15:46:06
    00:44:06
    17:23:47
    00:38:47
    15:26:14
    00:45:14
    17:03:54
    00:39:54
    15:05:38
    00:46:38
    16:39:48
    00:40:48
    Dongara Rise
    -
    -
    17:26:57
    00:41:57
    -

    -
    17:06:17
    00:42:17
    -
    -
    16:41:33
    00:42:33
    Canberra Rise
    15:50:49
    00:48:49
    -
    -
    15:30:08
    00:49:08
    -
    -
    15:08:33
    00:49:33




    TIP
    15:51:06
    00:49:06
    17:28:47
    00:43:47
    15:31:14
    00:50:14
    17:08:54
    00:44:54
    15:10:38
    00:51:38
    16:44:48
    00:45:48
    Spacecraft
    Transmitter ON

    15:52:06
    00:50:06
    17:29:47
    00:44:47
    15:32:14
    00:51:14
    17:09:54
    00:45:54
    15:11:38
    00:52:38
    16:45:48
    00:46:48

    Note: Uncertainties exist on the event times provided.

    UTC: Coordinated Universal Time.

    MET: Mission Elapsed Time = Time Relative to T-Zero (Liftoff - 1.1 s).

    CCB: Common Core Booster, SRB: Solid Rocket Booster, PLF: Payload Fairing, MES1: Main Engine Start #1, MECO1: Main Engine Cut-Off #1, MES2: Main Engine Start #2, MECO2: Main Engine Cut-Off #2, SEP: Separation, TIP: Target Interface Point.