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As the Centaur upper stage continues its coast phase, its onboard reaction control thrusters are firing periodically to keep propellants settled in the bottom of their tanks in anticipation of the start of the Centaur's second and final burn.
The first burn of the Centaur upper stage is complete and the vehicle has entered a coast phase of about half an hour. At the conclusion of the coast phase, the Centaur's engine will ignite again for an approximately seven-minute burn, followed by another short coast. Separation of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft from the Centaur …
The first of two burns for the Centaur upper stage is underway following burnout and separation of the Atlas booster. This is an approximately eight-minute burn. The payload fairing, having protected the spacecraft in the early minutes of flight, has separated and fallen away as planned.
The Atlas V's single solid rocket booster has been jettisoned. The vehicle is performing as expected. The next major milestone is cutoff of the Atlas booster's main engine.
Liftoff! The Atlas V 411 rocket is quickly climbing away from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying the Solar Orbiter spacecraft on an international, collaborative mission to view the Sun like never before.
One minute until liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Eastern Range is "green," meaning it's "go" for launch.
The countdown has resumed at T-4 minutes and counting. United Launch Alliance and NASA have polled their teams and they're "go" for launch of the Atlas V rocket and Solar Orbiter spacecraft at 11:03 p.m. EST. The spacecraft is on internal power.
Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Solar Orbiter spacecraft is on track for 11:03 p.m. EST. Countdown clocks remain in a planned, built-in hold at the T-4 minute mark. The hold will release at 10:59 p.m. — four minutes prior to launch.
Countdown clocks have temporarily paused at the T-4 minute mark. This is a planned, 15-minute hold expected to release at 10:59 p.m. EST. Liftoff of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket remains on schedule for 11:03 p.m.
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Orbiter spacecraft stands 189 feet tall. It features the 411 configuration, which means 4-meter payload fairing, 1 solid rocket booster and a 1 engine Centaur upper stage.
