Watch the Launch

MSL (Curiosity)

Overview

Destination: Mars Orbit
Mission: Robotic Exploration

Mars Orbit Space Launch Complex 41 Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

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.

Atlas V 541

Family:
Configuration: 541

Atlas V with 5m Fairing, 4 SRB, 1 Centaur upper stage engine.

See Details
Specifications
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    60.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.8 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    479.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Atlas V 541
  • Family
  • Variant
    541
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Atlas V 541
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $145000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    17410.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    8290.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    3530.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

United Launch Alliance

United Launch Alliance

(ULA)

CEO: Tory Bruno Founded: 2006 Successes: 164 Failures: 0 Pending: 43

Agency Type:

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.

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