Mars Science Laboratory Launch Milestones

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE 818-354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

Whitney Clavin 818-354-4673
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
whitney.clavin@jpl.nasa.gov

Feature: 2011-361 Nov. 23, 2011

Mars Science Laboratory Launch Milestones

The full version of this story with accompanying images is at:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-361&cid=release_2011-361

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars Science Laboratory is tucked inside its Atlas V
rocket, ready for launch on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station in Florida. The Nov. 26 launch window extends from 7:02 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. PST
(10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST). The launch period for the mission extends through Dec.
18.

The spacecraft, which will arrive at Mars in August 2012, is equipped with the most
advanced rover ever to land on another planet. Named Curiosity, the rover will
investigate whether the landing region has had environmental conditions favorable for
supporting microbial life, and favorable for preserving clues about whether life existed.

On Nov. 26, NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at 4:30 a.m. PST (7:30
a.m. EST). Live launch coverage will be carried on all NASA Television channels. For
NASA Television downlink information, schedule information and streaming video,
visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv . The launch coverage will also be streamed live on
Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl .

If the spacecraft lifts off at the start of the launch window on Nov. 26, the following
milestones are anticipated. Times would vary for other launch times and dates.

Launch

--The rocket's first-stage common core booster, and the four solid rocket boosters, will
ignite before liftoff. Launch, or "T Zero", actually occurs before the rocket leaves the
ground. The four solid rocket boosters jettison at launch plus one minute and 52 seconds.

Fairing Separation

--The nose cone, or fairing, carrying Mars Science Laboratory will open like a clamshell
and fall away at about three minutes and 25 seconds after launch. After this, the rocket's
first stage will cut off and then drop into the Atlantic Ocean.

Parking Orbit

--The rocket's second stage, a Centaur engine, is started for the first time at about four
minutes and 38 seconds after launch. After it completes its first burn of about 7 minutes,
the rocket will be in a parking orbit around Earth at an altitude that varies from 102 miles
(165 kilometers) to 201 miles (324 kilometers). It will remain there from 14 to 30
minutes, depending on the launch date and time. If launch occurs at the beginning of the
launch Nov. 26 launch window, this stage will last about 21 minutes.

On the Way to Mars

-- The second Centaur burn, continuing for nearly 8 minutes (for a launch at the opening
of the Nov. 26 launch window), lofts the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and sends it toward
Mars.

Spacecraft Separation

--Mars Science Laboratory will separate from the rocket that boosted it toward Mars at
about 44 minutes after launch, if launch occurs at the opening of the Nov. 26 window.
Shortly after that, the separated Centaur performs its last task, an avoidance maneuver
taking itself out of the spacecraft's flight path to avoid hitting either the spacecraft or
Mars.

Sending a Message of Good Health

--Once the spacecraft is in its cruise stage toward Mars, it can begin communicating with
Earth via an antenna station in Canberra, Australia, part of NASA's Deep Space Network.
Engineers expect to hear first contact from the spacecraft at about 55 minutes after launch
and assess the spacecraft's health during the subsequent 30 minutes. The spacecraft will
arrive at the Red Planet Aug. 6, 2012, Universal Time (evening of Aug. 5, 2012, PDT).

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., a division of the California Institute
of Technology, manages the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Launch management is
the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. The Atlas V launch service is provided by United Launch Alliance, Denver.

-end-

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