Atlas 5 to launch Mars Science Laboratory
Posted: Mon, Jun 5, 2006, 1:54 PM ET (1754 GMT)
NASA announced Friday that it has selected an Atlas 5 to launch its Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover in 2009. The $194.7-million contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services covers mission integration and launch services for the spacecraft. MSL is the agency's most sophisticated rover yet planned for Mars, with an RTG enabling long-duration operations on the Martian surface. NASA previously used an Atlas 5 to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter last year and the New Horizons mission to Pluto in January; the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, still operating after nearly two and a half years on Mars, were launched in 2003 on Delta 2 rockets.
NASA announced Friday that it has selected an Atlas 5 to launch its Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover in 2009. The $194.7-million contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services covers mission integration and launch services for the spacecraft. MSL is the agency's most sophisticated rover yet planned for Mars, with an RTG enabling long-duration operations on the Martian surface. NASA previously used an Atlas 5 to launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter last year and the New Horizons mission to Pluto in January; the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, still operating after nearly two and a half years on Mars, were launched in 2003 on Delta 2 rockets.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, September 22
Space fast becoming a 'war-fighting domain', military allies in Europe say
Radio New Zealand — 4:18 am ET (0818 GMT) SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 rocket Monday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 4:18 am ET (0818 GMT) How Blue Alchemist can help settlers tap the moon’s resources
The Hill — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit
UPI — 4:16 am ET (0816 GMT) Science Museum, London opens 'Space' with Apollo capsule, UK tech
collectSPACE — 4:15 am ET (0815 GMT) |
