ACE/MAG Project
Launch Images and Movies

 

Note: The text and images on this page were originally publihed on the Florida Today Online Web Pages on the day of the launch

 

August 25, 1997
Boeing Delta 2 rocket launches NASA's ACE

-Justin Ray 

NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft is launched atop a Boeing Delta 2 rocket this morning at 10:39 a.m. EDT. Copyright © 1997, Delinda Karnehm and Malcolm Denemark, FLORIDA TODAY.

     

Captured from NASA TV, these views show the Boeing Delta 2 rocket during launch this morning from Cape Canaveral. Images copyright © 1997, FLORIDA TODAY.

     

Captured from NASA TV, these views are from a small engineering camera mounted on the Delta first stage. Images copyright © 1997, FLORIDA TODAY. 

Captured from NASA TV, these views show the Boeing Delta 2 launch vehicle during final preparations for launch, including an image from a special camera mounted on the rocket. Also seen is a fishing boat located in the restricted area off the coast of Cape Canaveral. Officials say it is moving out of the area. Images copyright © 1997, FLORIDA TODAY.

    

These images illustrate the Delta 247 mission and NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft. At left, mission poster; Libration point description; artist's conception of ACE during science operations; ACE during final pre-launch testing; drawing of launch vehicle. Boeing and NASA images. 

Here are some Quick Time format MOV files of animation of ACE and launch 
Produced at 12 fps, 160x120 pixels, some with 8-bit 11KHz mono sound.  

• Launch Sequence from NASA TV - 1.7Mb file runs 25 seconds. 
• Separation of first six solids - 631Kb file runs 9 seconds. 
• Separation of last three solids - 582Kb file runs 9 seconds. 
• View of entire Complex 17 during launch - 653Kb file runs 12 seconds. 
• View of ignition from rocket camera 530Kb file runs 10 seconds. 
• View during flight from rocket camera - 1.5Mb file runs 20 seconds. 
• View of separation of first six solids from rocket camera - 524Kb file runs 7 seconds. 
• View of separation of last three solid from rocket camera - 751Kb file runs 10 seconds. 
• View of main engine and vernier engine cutoff from rocket camera - 1.1Mb file runs 16 seconds. 
• View of first stage tumbling from rocket camera - 907Kb file runs 15 seconds. 
• ACE flying through space - 794Kb file runs 12 seconds. 
• ACE separates from Delta second stage, deploys solar arrays - 1.5Mb file runs 21 seconds. 
• Deployment of magnetometer booms - 480Kb file runs 8 seconds. 
• Description of Libration Point orbit - 1.8Mb file runs 29 seconds. 
• View of Libration Point orbit - 1.1Mb file runs 19 seconds. 
• ACE instrument deck - 1.1Mb file runs 16 seconds. 

• Mission Commentator Bruce Buckingham calls the launch - 405Kb file runs 37 seconds.