Yes we all know this,
and have heard and seen it a hundred times. t-9 and ignition sequence has started, and you see all the engines starting up.
But what the original poster questioned wasn't that. but that it left the pad early.
even on the shuttle or the giant Saturn 5 launches. ignition starts yes long before zero, but the rocket or shuttle never left the ground before zero,
whereas on the video seen here of this launch it is very clear by both the digital timer and audio countdown that the rocket has left the pad and is airborne clearly 3 seconds before zero.
Joe
The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 6/6/2010 2:43 PM, Jeff Moore wrote:
That sort of thing is actually common practice. The Shuttle, for example, fires the main engines and allows them to get up to thrust and stabilize while the vehicle is still clamped down, then they fire the solid boosters, then they let it go.
Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY BAR - Born Again Rocketeer CN94
----- Original Message ----- From: "Elan Portnoy"elanportnoy@yahoo.com
That's been the case even earlier as well. Listen to any of the countdowns for the Apollo lunar missions. The Saturn V's engines would ignite at about T-9 and take a few seconds to produce full thrust before lift-off at T = 0.
I remember the announcer saying something to the effect of, "T minus 9, ignition sequence has started."
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb