Department of the Air Force Report, 1996

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Table 38. Flight-Phase Definitions
Flight Phase
0
Description
SRM auxiliary thrust phase
1
First-stage thrust phase if no auxiliary SRM's carried, or
First-stage thrust phase after SRM separation
1.5
Attitude-control phase after first-stage thrust phase or between
first and second-thrust phases
2
2.5
Second-stage thrust phase
Attitude-control phase after second thrust phase or between
second and third-thrust phases
3
Third-stage thrust phase, or third thrust phase if second stage is
restartable
3.5
Attitude-control phase after third thrust phase or between
third and fourth thrust phases
4
Fourth thrust phase, or
Upper stage/payload thrust phase
5
Attitude control phase after Flismt Phase 4, or orbital phase
In some cases, two•flight phases are listed opposite an entry, e.g., 2 and 5. This means
that some failure or anomalous behavior occurred during the second-stage thrusting
period that did not prevent the attainment of an orbit, but did result in an abnormal
final orbit. Other somewhat arbitrary decisions were necessary in assigning a flight
phase when an expended stage failed to separate, or an upper stage failed to ignite. If,
for example, the first and second stages failed to separate, any of flight phase 1, 1.5, or 2
could be assigned, depending on the exact cause of the failure.
The detailed
information needed to make the proper choice was sometimes lacking.
Table 39 is provided to assist in understanding how flight phases were assigned for
Atlas, Delta/Thor, and Titan vehicles.
Table 39. Flight Phases by Launch Vehicle
·Flight Phase Atlas
Deltall'hor
Titan
0
Castor burn
Castor /GEM burn
SRMsolo
1
1.5
2
Atlas booster
Booster separation
Sustainer
First-stage bum
Vernier solo - Sep 1/2
Second-stage bum
Stage 1
Stage-1 separation
Stage 2
2.5
Vernier/ACS solo
Coast between stg 2 / 3 Vernier solo
TS/Centaur/IDS
-
Second burn
3
3.5
4
Agena/Centaur
-
Second bum
Third-stage bum
Coast after stg 3
Second bum
5
Orbit
Orbit
Orbit
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