http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html en-us
"Our spacecraft is in excellent health and it's on its way to Mars," said Pete Theisinger, Mars Science Laboratory Project Manager from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. He thanked the launch team, United Launch Alliance, NASA's Launch Services Program and NASA's Kennedy Space Center for their help getting MSL into space.

"We are ready to go for landing on the surface of Mars, and we couldn't be happier," said John Grotzinger, Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist from the California Institute of Technology. "I think this mission will be a great one. It is an important next step in NASA's overall goal to address the issue of life in the universe."

Grotzinger added, "It is important to distinguish that as an intermediate mission between (Mars Exploration Rovers), which was the search for water, and future missions, which may undertake life detection, our mission is about looking for ancient habitable environments."

"Science fiction is now science fact," said Doug McCuisition, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters. "We're flying to Mars. We'll get it on the ground... and see what we find."]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:56:09 GMT
A post-launch news conference originating from NASA's Kennedy Space Center is coming up at 12:30 p.m. Watch it live on NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:00:43 GMT
Stay tuned for an update regarding acquisition of signal from the Mars-bound spacecraft.

A post-launch news conference originating from NASA's Kennedy Space Center is coming up. Watch it live on NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:46:27 GMT
The payload fairing has separated from the MSL spacecraft and the Atlas booster has separated from the Centaur stage with no issues.‬ The MSL spacecraft is set to separate from the Centaur stage at about 10:45 a.m.

Watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:18:40 GMT
The ascent continues to go very well as the Atlas V and MSL head for space.

Watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 15:02:11 GMT
For the latest in the countdown, watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:58:04 GMT
Although the launch team continues to monitor clouds moving through the area, the forecast remains 70 percent "go." The MSL spacecraft is confirmed "go."

For the latest in the countdown, watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 02:50:01 GMT
Clouds moving across the launch site may prompt periodic changes in the range's weather status from "red," meaning "no-go," back to "green," or "go." But with our one-hour, 43-minute launch window, there's still a 70 percent chance conditions will allow liftoff today.

For the latest in the countdown, watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:19:06 GMT
Although the range is expected to go "red," meaning "no-go," periodically as clouds move through the area, the overall forecast remains unchanged, with a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions within the launch window.

The launch pad has been cleared of all personnel and the rocket's Atlas V first stage and Centaur upper stage are being loaded with their complements of super-cold propellants.

For the latest in the countdown, watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:15:51 GMT
The launch pad has been cleared of all personnel as the team prepares to begin loading propellants into the rocket.

For the latest in the countdown, watch live launch coverage on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:33:56 GMT
Weather at launch time still is predicted to cooperate, with a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions.

Live launch commentary began at 7:30 a.m. Watch live on NASA Television at www.nasa.gov/ntv or follow along with NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/launch/launch_blog.html.]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:19:57 GMT
The launch team continues working towards liftoff of the Atlas V on Saturday, Nov. 26. No significant launch vehicle or spacecraft issues are being worked on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket or the MSL spacecraft, which includes the rover Curiosity.

Launch day weather remains favorable, with only a 30 percent chance of conditions prohibiting liftoff.]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:44:00 GMT
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the MSL Curiosity rover is on schedule to be rolled out to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 8 a.m. EST Friday. Launch is set for 10:02 a.m. Saturday.

Today's forecast still shows a 70 percent chance of good weather at launch time.]]> Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:19:26 GMT
"This rover, Curiosity rover, is really a rover on steroids. It's an order of magnitude more capable than anything we have ever launched to any planet in the solar system. It will go longer, it will discover more than we can possibly imagine," said Colleen Hartman, assistant associate administrator in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "The Mars Science Lab and the rover Curiosity is locked and loaded, ready for final countdown on Saturday's launch to Mars."

The next major prelaunch milestone is rollout of the Atlas V to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41.

"We plan on rolling the vehicle out of the Vertical Integration Facility on Friday morning," said NASA Launch Director Omar Baez. "We should be on the way to the pad by 8 a.m."

"We've had our normal challenges and hiccups that we have in these kinds of major operations, but things have gone extremely smoothly and we're fully prepared to go on Saturday morning. We hope that the weather cooperates," said Peter Theisinger, MSL project manager from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

Launch day weather is predicted to be favorable, with only a 30 percent chance of conditions prohibiting liftoff.]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:54:20 GMT
A prelaunch news conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST). Watch it on NASA Television at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is set for 10:02 a.m. EST, at the start of a one hour and 43 minute window. Launch day weather is predicted to be favorable, with only a 30 percent chance of conditions prohibiting liftoff.]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:17:57 GMT
Today, officials gather for the Launch Readiness Review, to be followed by a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST). Watch it on NASA Television at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. Meanwhile, closeouts of the thrust section on the rocket's Centaur upper stage are under way.

Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is set for 10:02 a.m. EST, at the start of a one hour and 43 minute window. Launch day weather is predicted to be favorable, with only a 30 percent chance of conditions prohibiting liftoff.]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:49:21 GMT
On Wednesday, officials will gather for the Launch Readiness Review, followed by a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. EST.

Launch day weather is predicted to be favorable, with only a 30 percent chance of conditions prohibiting liftoff.]]> Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:01:33 GMT
The Monday, Nov. 21 schedule of prelaunch tours and briefings will remain the same. Rollout of the Atlas V to the launch pad moves to Friday, Nov. 25. The rest of the week's briefings and events are being reevaluated and a new prelaunch schedule will be issued on Monday.]]> Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:09:33 GMT
The spacecraft -- with its rover, Curiosity -- is sealed inside the protective payload fairing atop the Atlas V rocket, which stands inside the Vertical Integration Facility at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41. Closeouts of the spacecraft and the Atlas V fairing are planned for Saturday, with a countdown dress rehearsal on Sunday's schedule.

Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:44:13 GMT
The spacecraft -- with its rover, Curiosity -- is sealed inside the protective payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, which stands inside the Vertical Integration Facility at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41. Closeouts of the spacecraft and the Atlas V fairing are planned for Saturday, with a countdown dress rehearsal on Sunday's schedule.

Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:07:50 GMT
The Flight Readiness Review will be held on Nov. 18. Closeouts of the spacecraft and the Atlas V fairing are scheduled to follow on Nov. 19.

Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:41:25 GMT
Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.]]> Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:15:31 GMT
The WDR was conducted on Oct. 13, and all Atlas V systems were fully tested. Liquid oxygen was loaded aboard the first stage, and liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were loaded into the second stage. The test concluded successfully, and the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were then de-tanked from the launch vehicle. The Atlas V was set to be returned to the Vertical Integration Facility on Oct. 14. It will be rolled out to the pad once again on Nov. 23 in preparation for launch on Nov. 25.

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF), integration of the Mars Science Laboratory systems for flight continues on schedule. The two halves of the payload fairing have arrived at the PHSF and are undergoing cleaning in preparation for encapsulation of the spacecraft later this month. MSL currently is set to be transported to Launch Complex 41 on or about Nov. 2.

The MLS Curiosity rover has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release the gasses so that its spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.]]> Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:36:59 GMT