The mission operations team has initiated the Centaur separation sequence. The tripping of 3 breakwire sensors will be the most immediate indication of a successful separation. After verification by the mission operations team, the spacecraft will perform a 180 degree pitch maneuver (turning around) to reorient the LCROSS sciene payload towards the receding Centaur. This is the first maneuver performed by the LCROSS spacecraft in a detached configuration. The maneuver takes approximately three minutes.
