Launch Complex 37B • Mobile Service Tower Rollback
Final pad preparation and Mobile Service Tower (MST) rollback at SLC-37B prior to launching the GPS III SV02 "Magellan" satellite
RS-68A Engine Ignition & Liftoff
RS-68A main engine ignition, fireballs, and liftoff of the final Delta IV Medium rocket at 09:06 EDT (13:06 UTC)
Transonic Flight & Solid Rocket Motor Separation
Ascent milestones: Transonic flight at T+46s (Mach 1), Max-Q, and GEM-60 Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) jettison at T+100s
Historical Note: This mission marked the 29th and final flight of the Delta IV Medium configuration, ending 17 years of service since its maiden flight in 2002. United Launch Alliance retired the Medium variant to transition payloads to the Vulcan Centaur rocket family.