The dual-payload attach fitting - the mechanism used to hold the TIMED and Jason-1 spacecraft in place during launch - separates in preparation for the TIMED spacecraft to be jettisoned from the Delta II launch vehicle. TIMED is the second of the two spacecraft to be jettisoned.
Within seconds after its separation, TIMED's solar arrays are deployed and the spacecraft begins detumbling - an action that occurs during the course of one orbit cycle to help stabilize the spacecraft. |
