Watch Animation Of How The Boeing Starliner Launches To Space

Space.com

This animation shows Boeing Starliner launching to space on board a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Starliner is one of two spacecraft built to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station.  Credit: Boeing

Transcript

00:00Ascent begins at T-0, liftoff, the end of the countdown, and the beginning of the mission.

00:20Shortly afterwards, at T-12 seconds, the rocket rolls, lining up Starliner with its target

00:26orbit and putting the astronauts in a heads-up position.

00:30Then around T-40 seconds, Max Q starts, that's also known as Max Aerodynamic Pressure.

00:37This is a critical time when the atmospheric forces reach their highest.

00:41Next, at about plus 1 minute 35 seconds, the two solid rocket boosters run out of fuel

00:48and burn out, and about a minute later they separate from the booster.

00:52The Atlas booster engine continues to burn for almost 2 more minutes.

00:57Then at approximately plus 4.30, booster engine cutoff, or BECO.

01:02About 5 seconds later, the booster separates and so does the ascent cover on top of Starliner.

01:09At around 4 minutes 45 seconds, the Centaur upper stage ignites, continuing the push to

01:14orbital speeds.

01:16Then a little after 5 minutes, Starliner is free of the atmosphere and doesn't need

01:20additional aerodynamic support, and the aero skirt is jettisoned.

01:26After a long 6 plus minute push from Centaur, main engine cutoff, or MECO, happens around

01:3212 minutes after liftoff.

01:35Then when Centaur successfully separates almost 15 minutes after launch, ULA's job is done.

01:41But Starliner is not quite in orbit yet.

01:45After a 16 minute coast, Starliner ignites 4 of its Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude

01:50Control, or OMAC engines, for the orbital insertion burn, and then 31 minutes after

01:55liftoff, the ascent profile is complete.

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