STS-93 - Chandra Deployment Mission

1. ( 0:00 hours ) The solid rocket motors ignited and Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off.
2. ( 0:02 hours ) The burn of the solid rocket motors was complete and they separated from the shuttle.
3. ( 0:08 hours ) The main engine cut off and the disposable external fuel tank separated.
4. ( 2:00 hours ) Shuttle payload doors opened and at 8:42 hours, a small spring gently catapulted the satellite into space.
5. Columbia continued to orbit for a few days while conducting science experiments before returning to Earth.

1. ( 9:41 hours ) The first of two solid rocket motors ignited, burned, and separated from Chandra.
2. ( 9:44 hours ) The second rocket fired, lifting Chandra into a highly elliptical orbit. For the next nine days a second propulsion system fired five times to take the observatory to its final orbit.