Watch Replay of the launch via RealMedia Streaming video - (Download Archive 4Mb )
The Commercial Atlas IIA mission launched the TDRS-I communication satellite on Friday, March 8, at 5:59 p.m. EST. The TDRS system is a cluster of Tracking Data Relay Satellites tthat are in geosynchronous orbit. They are used to relay voice, video and datafrom NASA scientific satellites (such as the Hubble Space Telescope), the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle.
The countdown will begin at 8:49 a.m. on Friday morning. The
gantry will be pulled back from around the Atlas launch vehicle at
2:26 p.m. Loading of the Liquid Oxygen aboard the Centaur stage will
begin at 3:53 p.m. Atlas stage liquid oxygen loading begins at 4:19
p.m. Finally, the liquid hydrogen will be loaded aboard the Centaur
stage beginning at 4:33 p.m. A 15-minute built in hold is planned to
occur at the T-5 minute mark leading to launch at 5:39 p.m. EST.
Thursday, March 7, 2002 1:42:52 EST (J. Dumoulin)
A service of NASA/Kennedy Space Center ELV and Payload Carriers Office, Steve Francois, Director