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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, August 11
Russia rolling out Starlink-style network faster than expected, Kyiv says
Reuters — 5:00 am ET (0900 GMT) Musk: Starlink To Grow Beyond 100,000 Satellites With Higher Throughput
Aviation Week — 5:00 am ET (0900 GMT) U.S. space and missile defense at center stage in Huntsville, Alabama
Washington Times — 4:57 am ET (0857 GMT) Voyager Wins Space Force Tactical Data Link Comms Work
Aviation Week — 4:55 am ET (0855 GMT) Kepler Selects Rocket Lab's Neutron for First Dedicated Launch as Network Expansion Accelerates
GlobeNewswire — 4:54 am ET (0854 GMT) |
