Ares 1-X countdown timeline

NOTE: All data assumes an on-time launch at 8 a.m. EDT.

L-0 Day

October 27, 2009

T-00:00 (8:00:00 a.m. EDT)....SRM ignition and hold-down bolts fire T+00:00.225 (8:00:00.225 a.m. EDT)....Liftoff; Pyrotechnics fire to release umbilicals T+00:06 (8:00:06 a.m. EDT)....Clear launch tower; Roll Control System activation; Start 90-degree roll T+00:20 (8:00:20 a.m. EDT)....RoCS turned off for 1 second out of every 10 seconds T+00:34 (8:00:34 a.m. EDT)....Conduct first test maneuver with nozzle deflections of +/- 0.12 degree for 10 seconds T+00:39.8 (8:00:39.8 a.m. EDT)....Mach 1 T+00:55 (8:00:55 a.m. EDT)....Conduct second test maneuver with nozzle deflections of +/- 0.12 degree for 10 seconds T+01:00 (8:01:00 a.m. EDT)....Maximum dynamic pressure T+01:15 (8:01:15 a.m. EDT)....Conduct third test maneuver with nozzle deflections of +/- 0.35 degree for 10 seconds T+01:33.6 (8:01:33.6 a.m. EDT)....Conduct final test maneuver with yaw input pulse of 1 degree T+01:55 (8:02:00 a.m. EDT)....Sequencer begins looking for burnout T+02:00 (8:02:00 a.m. EDT)....Begin burnout sequence T+02:02 (8:02:02 a.m. EDT)....Turn off RoCS; Shut down Auxiliary Power Unit T+02:03 (8:02:03 a.m. EDT)....Fire booster deceleration motors; First stage/upper stage simulator separation T+02:06 (8:02:06 a.m. EDT)....Fire first stage tumble motors T+02:33 (8:02:33 a.m. EDT)....Arm recovery control unit for altitude-based events T+02:42 (8:02:42 a.m. EDT)....Apogee of 153,000 feet T+05:16 (8:05:16 a.m. EDT)....First stage deploys pilot chute T+05:18 (8:05:18 a.m. EDT)....First stage deploys drogue chute T+05:42 (8:05:42 a.m. EDT)....First stage deploys main chutes T+06:00 (8:06:00 a.m. EDT)....Sever first stage nozzle T+06:09 (8:06:09 a.m. EDT)....First stage splashdown