Mars Rover Curiosity Takes Off‏

[Dingo]

NASA Science News for Nov. 26, 2011

NASA's biggest and most capable Mars rover ever left Earth this morning in a picture perfect launch from Cape Canaveral. The new rover, named "Curiosity", is due to reach the Red Planet in August 2012.

FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/26nov_msllaunch/

To learn more about Curiosity's landing site on Mars, check out the video "The Strange Attraction of Gale Crater": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNqeftciRFA

[kashi]

I watched the takeoff live last night on NASA TV.  Great, just like cracker night only bigger, "light blue touch paper and stand clear". 

The telemetry animation after it lost visual contact was unusual, you could see the steering thrusters firing to keep it on course.