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Just clearing the Tower the Atlas 5 rocket launch is looking good.
The Atlas 5 carrying the Mars Science Laboratory blasted off right on time on Saturday morning. It was just about perfect countdown and launch.
The only slight blip was the weather with cloud cover sending the range red every now and then during the countdown. Each time the launch criteria were broken they quickly came back in bounds again and there was no fear that weather was going to spoil the day with such a long launch window.
In fact the only real question was would the range be red at the planned T-0. The answer was clearly no as the countdown exited the last planned hold at T-4 minutes and entered the terminal countdown.
Right on the window opening time the sound suppression system on Launch Pad 41 started dumping water over the pad and the flame trench. Seconds later the Atlas 5 main engines and SRBs were lit and the rocket was on its way to Mars.
Jeff was on top of the VAB to capture the launch and we also had our cameras on the launch pad. Our picture gallery contains a selection of our best shots…
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- Sound suppression system activated as the Atlas 5 rocket main engines light.
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- Solid Rocket Boosters light and the Atlas 5 rocket starts rising off the pad.
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- A few feet into the air now and the umbilical cables break away. As the Atlas V and MSL get on their way.
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- The umbilical connections between the rocket and ground control breaking away as the Atlas 5 rocket inches off the launch pad.
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- Finally freed from its shackles the Atlas 5 rocket is blasting off LC-41.
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- Half way up the launch tower now and the Atlas 5 SRB exhaust gasses are starting to build at the base of the pad.
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- Just clearing the Tower the Atlas 5 rocket launch is looking good.
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- Our last launch pad picture as the Atlas 5 rocket launches the Mars Science Laboratory into space with the Curiosity rover to search for life on Mars.
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- Atlas 5 rocket sitting on pad ready to launch the Mars Science Laboratory into space with the Curiosity rover to search for life on Mars.
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- The Atlas 5 rocket has fired its main engines ready for launch.
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- Atlas 5 rocket launches the Mars Science Laboratory into space with the Curiosity rover to search for life on Mars.
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- Atlas 5 rocket with MSL has cleared the launch tower.
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- Atlas 5 rocket with MSL is now at full throttle and on its way to escape velocity.
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- Atlas 5 rocket exhaust covers the launch pad as the Mars Science Laboratory heads into space with the Curiosity rover to search for life on Mars.
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- Atlas 5 rocket streaking through the sky after a perfect lift off.
