Typical GTO Mission Profile

Boost Phase (Stage-1 Flight)
At launch, the four strap-on boosters of AURORA and the core stage are ignited.

After the hold-down clamps are released, the launch vehicle rises vertically away from the pad for several hundred meters. After clearing the launch complex, the vehicle rolls to the required azimuth, and commences a "pitch program" to steer the vehicle up through the lower atmosphere.

After 25 seconds, the launch vehicle is away from Christmas Island. After approximately 80 seconds, it has an altitude of 10-12 km and is about 2-3 km out to sea.

This first stage's four strap-on boosters burn until their fuel is exhausted (around 120 seconds), by which time the rocket is in very thin air at about 100km above the Earth's surface. The four boosters are then separated from the rest of the vehicle and they fall into the ocean.

Second Stage
The second stage of flight continues with the core stage propulsion system. During this phase of flight, the payload fairing is separated at about 115 km, when the proper atmospheric heating limits are achieved. After consuming its fuel, the second stage engine is jettisoned and falls into the ocean.

Third Stage
The third stage of AURORA is ignited just prior to separation from the core stage (Stage-2). This stage burns for about 250 seconds, increasing the vehicle speed to about 8 km/s. At this speed, the vehicle and its payload are in orbit.

Orbital Flight
Upon achieving low earth orbit, the third stage is separated from the fourth stage orbital unit. The third stage will typically re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere several months after the launch mission.

For a geosynchronous transfer mission, the fourth stage will then provide alttitude control during the coast of the orbital unit, until it reaches the equator, called the node of the orbit. Then upper stage propulsion system is ignited to increase the speed, which has the effect of raining the apogee.

Upon completion of the burn, the orbital unit is in a geosynchronous transfer orbit. After the proper alignment and spin-up of the upper stage, the spacecraft is separated.

The upper stage will then perform a series of maneuvers known as CCAM, to increase the distance between itself and the spacecraft while, at the same time, ensuring that minimal contamination of the spacecraft results from the exhaust products of the stage propulsion systems.

Satellite Mission
After separation, the spacecraft control center typically "acquires" control of the spacecraft within the first hour or so. The customer then sends commands which, at the highest point (apogee) and about 5 hours after release, fire the spacecraft’s own engines. This circularizes the orbit and the satellite is in GEO ready to commence service.