Success
MSL (Curiosity)
Robotic Exploration
United Launch Alliance(ULA)CommercialAtlas V 541
Marsorbit
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission, featuring the renowned Curiosity rover, was designed to assess the planet's past and present habitability. Equipped with an array of advanced scientific instruments, including a drill and a sample analysis unit, Curiosity explored the Gale Crater, a site believed to contain evidence of ancient Martian environments. It delivered groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of organic molecules and the confirmation of an ancient, potentially habitable lake bed.
Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 3:02 PM
Replay
Mission details
NASA's large strategic science missions or large strategic missions, formerly known as Flagship missions or Flagship-class missions, are the costliest and most capable NASA science spacecraft. Flagship missions exist within all four divisions of NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD): the astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics and planetary science divisions.
Aug 22, 1975 — ongoing
Orbital Attempt
#5,179
ULA Mission
#57
Pad Launch
#51
Location Launch
#683
Designator
2011-070
Launch Window
NET
Nov 26, 2011, 3:02 PM
Precision
Minute
Schedule Changes
1 update
Atlas V 541 Specs
Atlas V with 5m Fairing, 4 SRB, 1 Centaur upper stage engine.
Length
60 m
Diameter
3.8 m
Launch Mass
479 t
LEO Capacity
17,410 kg
GTO Capacity
8,290 kg
GEO Capacity
3,530 kg
Launch Cost
$145M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2011
Fastest Turnaround
4mo 2d
Total Launches
9
Successful
9
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
9
Maiden flight: Nov 26, 2011
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg.
Founded
2006
Administrator
Interim CEO: John Elbon
Total Launches
173
Successful
173
Failed
0
Pending
38
Consecutive Success
173
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.
Timezone
America/New_York
Local Launch Time
Nov 26, 2011, 10:02 AM
Total Launches
1,109
Total Landings
75
Coordinates
28.4889, -80.5778