1 of 18
Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Launches Into Space
Credit: NASA TV
The Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, launches into space from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 26, 2011.
2 of 18
Curiosity's Launch
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity blasts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 26, 2011.
3 of 18
Mars Rover Curiosity Launch
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's Curiosity rover launches into space.
4 of 18
Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Atlas 5 Launch
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's Curiosity rover launches atop an Atlas 5 rocket on Nov. 26, 2011.
5 of 18
Curiosity Rover Blasts Into Space
Credit: NASA TV
The Atlas 5 rocket carrying NASA's Curiosity rover blasts into space.
6 of 18
Mars Rover Curiosity Launches Into Space
Credit: NASA TV
The Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, rockets into space.
7 of 18
Atlas 5 Rocket Carrying Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity Rover
Credit: NASA TV
A close view of the Atlas 5 rocket blasting into space with the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover.
8 of 18
Curiosity Rover Rockets Into Space Aboard Atlas 5 Rocket
Credit: NASA TV
The Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, rockets into space aboard an Atlas 5 rocket.
9 of 18
Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Launch
Credit: NASA TV
The Mars Science Laboratory launches into space on an Atlas 5 rocket on Nov. 26, 2011.
10 of 18
Curiosity Rover Mars Science Laboratory Rocket Launch
Credit: NASA TV
The solid rocket boosters fall away from the Atlas 5 rocket during the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory on Nov. 26, 2011.
11 of 18
Onboard Atlas 5 Rocket Carrying Curiosity Rover
Credit: NASA TV
An onboard view of the Atlas 5 rocket as it blasts into space with NASA's newest Mars rover, Curiosity.
12 of 18
Curiosity Rover On Its Way to Mars
Credit: NASA TV
This onboard view shows the successful spacecraft separation about 45 minutes after launch. The Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, is now on its way to Mars.
13 of 18
Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Launch Pad
Credit: Mars, mars science laboratory, msl, curiosity rover, msl launch, curiosity launch, atlas 5, atlas v rocket, rocket launches, mars missions, mars rovers
The Atlas 5 rocket carrying the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, stands poised at the launch pad, just over a minute before launch.
14 of 18
Curiosity Rover Atop Atlas 5 Rocket
Credit: NASA
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was hoisted atop its Atlas 5 rocket on Nov. 3, 2011.
15 of 18
Mars Rover Curiosity Heads to Cape Canaveral
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Atlas 5 rocket's payload fairing containing NASA's Mars rover Curiosity stands securely atop the transporter that will carry it to Space Launch Complex 41 on Nov. 3, 2011.
16 of 18
Curiosity's Atlas 5 Rocket
Credit: Mike Wall/SPACE.com
The Curiosity rover, nestled atop its Atlas 5 rocket, was rolled out to its launchpad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov. 25, 2011, to prepare for its blastoff on Nov. 26.
17 of 18
Mars Rover Curiosity Hoisted Atop Atlas 5 Rocket
Credit: NASA
In this still from a NASA video, the Mars rover Curiosity, encased in its payload fairing, is hoisted up to be placed atop its Atlas 5 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 3, 2011.
18 of 18
Mars Science Laboratory About to Be Lifted at Dawn
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
At Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft has been attached to a lifting device in preparation for a planned Nov. 25, 2011, launch.














