George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
This is Delta Launch Control at one hour, 3 minutes, 18 seconds into the flight of the
OSTM/Jason-2 spacecraft. With us at the console in Mission Director?s Center is Omar
Baez, our NASA launch director for tonight?s launch. Omar, first of all, we saw something
we haven?t seen before, and how did it appear to you?
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:
It looks like we visually verified that the spacecraft did separate. It was a beautiful picture
from the rocket cam. As it drifted away, we could tell that at least one of the solar panels
did deploy. The picture got a little bit blurry for us, so it?s hard to determine whether the
second solar panel went off. All indications are that Jason-2 is operating.
George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
Well, from the stand point of the countdown, certainly didn?t seem like there was too much
to talk about there.
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:
No, it seemed like from the very beginning of today, and today started this morning at
10 p.m. for a lot of us. And everything we talked about or worried about, and in
excruciating detail, went away. In fact, as I walked into the control room today, and saw
one of the high altitude balloons go red or bad for us. We talked that through for a little
while and talked about some strategies. And sure enough, within a couple of minutes of
that, the balloons went green and we were ready to go. So it was a very quiet countdown.
George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
Yes, that seemed to be about it. There was nothing else that seemed to come up that
brought very much discussion. So after liftoff, how did that appear from the data that was
coming back?
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:
The data appeared. There were some things in it that we need to go look at. It seemed like
the first stage went a little short, and looks like the second stage had to make up for some
of that. This is a high performance mission, in other words, it?s a very light spacecraft for
this type of rocket. Maybe it?s nothing, but we do have to look at the data a little bit. It
looks like the satellite?s in the proper orbit, but maybe some of our predicts were a little bit
off, and we just need to go look at that.
George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
What is going to be the next Delta II mission? From here it?s out a little ways, isn?t it?
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:
Yes, the next Delta II mission from here will be in approximately two months, and it?s
looking to be one of the ULA commercial missions. That will be a Delta II, from SLC 2 West.
George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
And then I think NASA has one out here after the first of the year, but not a Delta.
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:
Well yes, we have an Orbital Science's Taurus with the OCO mission, and followed shortly
will the NOAA N-Prime on a Delta II.
George Diller/OSTM/Jason-2 Launch Commentator:
Well Omar, thanks very much. Congratulations. I?m sure the team is looking forward to
heading back to Florida, because this is two in two weeks.
Omar Baez/NASA Launch Director:Yes sir.
George Diller: But it certainly is a good feeling, I think.
Omar Baez: Yes.
George Diller:
So thank you very much and I look forward to seeing you back at the Cape. At this point, I
think that will conclude our launch commentary here from the Mission Director?s Center at
Vandenberg Air Force Base. At one hour, 7 minutes, 30 seconds into the mission of
OSTM/Jason-2 this is Delta Launch Control.