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Soyuz Countdown Timeline

Time	Event
L-08:00:00	Final Countdown commences
	Soyuz Systems Checks
L-06:00:00	Battery Installation in Booster
L-04:20:00	Sate Commission Meeting
L-04:00:00	Propellant Loading
L-01:45:00	Tanking Complete -- LOX Replenish
L-01:45:00	Launcher Systems Checks
L-01:00:00	Guidance System Activation
	Mobile Service Structure Retraction
L-00:45:00	Flight Computer Software Load
L-00:30:00	Launch Command Power Activation
L-00:10:00	Inertial Guidance System Activation
	On-Board Recorders activated
L-00:08:00	Payload to Internal Power
L-00:06:00	COUNTDOWN AUTO SEQUENCE
L-00:05:00	Ground & On-Board Telemetry Activation
	Transfer to onboard Control
	Launch Key Inserted
L-00:03:15	Engine Nitrogen Purge
L-00:02:40	Umbilical mast power disconnected to 3rd stage
L-00:02:35	Propellant Tank Pressurization
L-00:02:30	Onboard Measurement System Activation
L-00:02:15	Propellant Tank Drain&Safety Valves closed
	LOX and N2 Loading Termination
L-00:01:00	Transfer to Internal Power
	AUTO SEQUENCER ENABLED
	First Umbilical Tower Separates from Booster
L-00:00:40	Power Umbilical to third Stage disconnected
L-00:00:20	ENGINE IGNITION (Core Stage and Boosters)
L-00:00:15	Intermediate Thrust Level
	Second umbilical Tower separated from Booster
L-00:00:10	Engine Turbopumps at Flight Speed
L-00:00:05	Full Thrust Level
L-00:00:00	Fueling Tower Retracts
	LIFTOFF

Launch Date	December 19, 2013
Launch Window	9:12:18 UTC
Launch Site	ELS, Guiana Space
	Center, French Guiana
Windows	Daily

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Launch Vehicle

Soyuz 2-1B - Fregat MT

Photo: ESA

>>>Launch Vehicle Information

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Links

Gaia Section

Flight Profile

Image: Lavochkin Association

Time	Event
T-0:00:20	Launch Command
T-0:00:15	Preliminary Thrust Level
T-0:00:10	Turbopumps at Flight Speed
T-0:00:05	Full Thrust
T-0:00:00	LIFTOFF
T+0:01:58	Booster Shutdown & Separation
T+0:03:40	Payload Fairing Separation
T+0:04:46	Core Stage Shutdown
T+0:04:48	Third Stage Ignition & Stage Sep
T+0:09:23	Fregat Separation
T+0:10:23	Fregat First Ignition
	Burn: 2min 16sec
T+0:12:39	Fregat Shutdown
	Coast Phase: 8min 46sec
T+0:21:14	Fregat Second Ignition
	Burn: 15min 34sec
T+0:36:59	Fregat Shutdown
T+0:41:59	Gaia SEPARATION

Injection Orbit
Perigee	-681km
Apogee	180km
Inclination	14.98°
Parking Orbit
Perigee	175km
Apogee	175km
Inclination	14.98°
SC Separation Orbit
Perigee	6722km
Apogee	969,068km
Inclination	35.45°
Graveyard Orbit
Perigee	374km
Apogee	2,150,152km
Inclination	14.99°

Image: Astrium

Transfer Trajectory

Image: Astrium

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