MSL Mission Begins with On-time Launch
Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:18:40 AM EST
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, including the new rover, Curiosity, lifted off on time on the first opportunity at 10:02 a.m. EST. Today's launch caps a very smooth countdown and generally cooperative weather at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41.
The payload fairing has separated from the MSL spacecraft and the Atlas booster has separated from the Centaur stage with no issues. The MSL spacecraft is set to separate from the Centaur stage at about 10:45 a.m.
Steven Lee, the guidance, navigation, and control manager for the Mars Science Laboratory mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, Calif., describes how NASA plans to land and navigate its new Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars in 2012.
0 
