The payload fairing that protected OCO-2 during the early minutes of flight has separated, allowing the observatory to encounter the space environment for the first time.
Fairing Jettisoned
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The payload fairing that protected OCO-2 during the early minutes of flight has separated, allowing the observatory to encounter the space environment for the first time.
Everything continues to go according to plan as the Delta II rocket continues its climb. The first stage separated on time and the second-stage engine has started its first of two burns today, providing 9,753 pounds of thrust to keep OCO-2 on course for its release later this morning.
The vehicle just passed Mach 5 and all is going well with the flight.
The vehicle has passed Max Q, the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The solid rocket boosters completed their burn about a minute into the flight and have fallen away.
Ignition and liftoff! OCO-2's voyage gets underway with a spectacular predawn liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Delta II rocket is lighting the skies as it climbs out over the Pacific Ocean. The rocket's first stage is providing 200,000 pounds of thrust and getting an additional boost from the …
Liftoff is one minute away!
Only two minutes left in the countdown.
OCO-2 is four minutes away from the start of its journey.
NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn and ULA Launch Conductor Ward Johansen have performed one last round of polls and all teams are ready to proceed with the countdown. Stand by for release of the T-4 minute hold.
The OCO-2 spacecraft is running on internal power and configured for launch.