The vehicle is now coasting before separation of the stage in about a minute. Throttling of the second stage has occurred to keep gravity forces within limits against the vehicle and Thuraya 1 spacecraft. Less than one minute left in the second stage firing. Officials still reporting a nominal flight. All appears to be going well in today's flight of the Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket.
Second stage continues to burn.
The payload fairing, or nose cone, of the rocket has separated. Also, NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System has acquired signal from the Block DM-SL upper stage. Pressures in the second stage main engine and vernier steering engine reported normal. The first stage RD-171 engine has shutdown s planned and the spent stage was jettisoned. Ignition of the second stage engine has been confirmed.