karn@eagle.UUCP (06/06/83)
This is a launch event sequence for Ariane 6, carrying AMSAT Phase 3-B and ECS-1. All times are nominal and are in seconds relative to H0 (first stage ignition.) -9 Inertial guidance platform uncaging -4 Third stage cryo arm unlock -.2 Third stage cryo arms retract 0 First stage ignition +3.4 Liftoff (release launch table jaws) 13 10 sec roll to orient Y axis for correct launch azimuth 23 End of vertical ascent; start 1.8 deg/sec yaw towards initial launch azimuth of 78 deg from north 145.6 First stage tailoff - half thrust; ascent angle at 45 deg 148 Ignition 2nd stage ullage rockets 150.48 Stage 1/2 separation, ignition 1st stage retro rockets 150.5 Telemetry format change 151.25 Second stage ignition 153.7 Second stage up to nominal thrust 158.0 Second stage ullage rocket jettison 160.6 Guidance start; flight azimuth dogleg from 78 deg to 105.5 deg at 2 deg/sec 254 Fairing jettison 286.9 Second stage tailoff - half thrust 287.7 Ignition 3rd stage ullage rockets 291.85 Stage 2/3 separation, ignition 2nd stage retro rockets 296.9 Third stage up to nominal thrust 297.2 Second stage retro rocket burnout 307.7 Third stage ullage rocket jettison 854 Third stage shutdown sequence start 856.4 Attitude reorientation for ECS-1 918.4 10 RPM spinup start 939.4 End of spinup; ECS-1 separation 941.4 Sylda upper structure separation 945.4 Despin start 964.4 Roll angle at 90 deg 983.4 Attitude orientation for AMSAT Phase 3-B 1015.4 End of attitude reorientation; start 10 RPM spinup 1040.4 End of spinup; AMSAT Phase 3-B separation & powerup 1043.4 Despin start 1071.0 Roll angle at 0 deg 1095.9 Pitch angle at 90 deg 1144.9 Start spin 18 deg/sec The last maneuver is to start the spent third stage tumbling, so as to make it re-enter more quickly. As you can see, a LOT happens in just a few minutes! I have not listed several roll maneuvers intended to keep ground tracking stations out of launcher telemetry antenna nulls.