WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000


00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:10.000
GEORGE DILLER: This is Atlas launch control at T minus 2 hours and holding. We're now entering the final phase of the launch countdown for NASA's

00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:25.000
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The countdown began at 7:03 p.m. last night with the start of the final preparations to resume cryogenic loading.

00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:39.000
And we've had a "go" to begin that activity. We're in a planned built-in hold at this time. And the weather forecast is favorable for a launch today.

00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:48.000
Right now, there are a few isolated showers moving to the northeast. Winds are southwesterly, 5 to 6 knots. The temperature at launch time will be

00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:58.000
in the low to mid-80's. And right now, there are no observed or forecast constraints that would preclude a launch today.

00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:08.000
Unlike yesterday when we were dealing with thunderstorms in the middle of the night, there was no thunderstorm activity overnight today.

00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:19.000
The filling of the Atlas and Centaur will take about an hour once cryogenic loading begins. The 4,300 gallons of Centaur liquid oxygen is

00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:28.000
loaded first, followed by loading of 50,000 gallons of Atlas liquid oxygen and then the 13,000 gallons of Centaur liquid hydrogen.

00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:38.000
The RP-1, a highly refined kerosene, is storable aboard the Atlas V, and 26,000 gallons of RP-1 was loaded into the vehicle during the first

00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:50.000
countdown dress rehearsal several weeks ago. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft team reports that the spacecraft is go for launch

00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:59.000
and configured 
for the cryogenic loading operations for the vehicle that will be going on beneath it.

00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:10.000
So at this time, we're standing by for the chill-down process to be initiated that kicks off the final phase of our launch countdown

00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:16.000
preparations today. At T minus 2 hours and holding, this is Atlas launch control.

00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:16.000