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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers push the newly arrived third stage, or upper stage for the New Horizons spacecraft, into position for uncovering. The third stage is a Boeing STAR 48 solid-propellant kick motor. The Atlas V is the launch vehicle for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during a 35-day window that opens Jan. 11 and fly through the Pluto system as early as summer 2015. New Horizons will be powered by a single radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), provided by the Department of Energy, which will be installed shortly before launch. KSC-05pd2542

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Payl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility, workers push the newly arrived third stage, or upper stage for the New Horizons spacecraft, into position ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility awaits the arrival of New Horizons at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New Horizons carries seven scientific instruments that will characterize the global geology and geomorphology of Pluto and its moon Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures, and examine Pluto's complex atmosphere. After that, flybys of Kuiper Belt objects from even farther in the solar system may be undertaken in an extended mission. New Horizons is the first mission in NASA's New Frontiers program of medium-class planetary missions. The spacecraft, designed for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will launch aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas V rocket and fly by Pluto and Charon as early as summer 2015. KSC-05pd2636

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility awaits the arrival of New Horizons at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New Horizons carr... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture raises the fairing enclosing New Horizons to the top of a Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New Horizons carries seven scientific instruments that will characterize the global geology and geomorphology of Pluto and its moon Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures, and examine Pluto's complex atmosphere. After that, flybys of Kuiper Belt objects from even farther in the solar system may be undertaken in an extended mission. New Horizons is the first mission in NASA's New Frontiers program of medium-class planetary missions. The spacecraft, designed for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will launch aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas V rocket and fly by Pluto and Charon as early as summer 2015. KSC-05pd2641

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture raises the fa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture raises the fairing enclosing New Horizons to the top of a Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Ca... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture is secured to the nose of the fairing enclosing New Horizons at the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New Horizons carries seven scientific instruments that will characterize the global geology and geomorphology of Pluto and its moon Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures, and examine Pluto's complex atmosphere. After that, flybys of Kuiper Belt objects from even farther in the solar system may be undertaken in an extended mission. New Horizons is the first mission in NASA's New Frontiers program of medium-class planetary missions. The spacecraft, designed for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will launch aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas V rocket and fly by Pluto and Charon as early as summer 2015. KSC-05pd2639

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture is secured to...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing lifting fixture is secured to the nose of the fairing enclosing New Horizons at the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing enclosing New Horizons arrives at the top of a Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. New Horizons carries seven scientific instruments that will characterize the global geology and geomorphology of Pluto and its moon Charon, map their surface compositions and temperatures, and examine Pluto's complex atmosphere. After that, flybys of Kuiper Belt objects from even farther in the solar system may be undertaken in an extended mission. New Horizons is the first mission in NASA's New Frontiers program of medium-class planetary missions. The spacecraft, designed for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will launch aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas V rocket and fly by Pluto and Charon as early as summer 2015. KSC-05pd2642

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing enclosing New Horizons arrive...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The fairing enclosing New Horizons arrives at the top of a Lockheed Martin Atlas V launch vehicle in the Vertical Integration Facility at Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Stat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Railroad cars sit on a track that runs past the launch pad on Complex 41 (background) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Waiting on the pad for launch is the Atlas V/New Horizons spacecraft, surrounded by four lightning masts. Two scheduled launch attempts were scrubbed Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 due to weather conditions: high surface winds in Florida the first day and a storm-related power outage at the spacecraft mission operations center in Maryland on the second day. A third launch attempt has been scheduled for Jan. 19. KSC-06pd0078

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Railroad cars sit on a track that runs p...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Railroad cars sit on a track that runs past the launch pad on Complex 41 (background) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Waiting on the pad for launch is the Atlas V/... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Into a blue, cloud-scattered sky, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft lifts off on time at 2 p.m. EST aboard an Atlas V rocket from Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida This was the third launch attempt in as many days after scrubs due to weather concerns. The compact, 1,050-pound piano-sized probe will get a boost from a kick-stage solid propellant motor for its journey to Pluto. New Horizons will be the fastest spacecraft ever launched, reaching lunar orbit distance in just nine hours and passing Jupiter 13 months later. The New Horizons science payload, developed under direction of Southwest Research Institute, includes imaging infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers, a multi-color camera, a long-range telescopic camera, two particle spectrometers, a space-dust detector and a radio science experiment. The dust counter was designed and built by students at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The launch at this time allows New Horizons to fly past Jupiter in early 2007 and use the planet’s gravity as a slingshot toward Pluto. The Jupiter flyby trims the trip to Pluto by as many as five years and provides opportunities to test the spacecraft’s instruments and flyby capabilities on the Jupiter system. New Horizons could reach the Pluto system as early as mid-2015, conducting a five-month-long study possible only from the close-up vantage of a spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-06pd0083

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Into a blue, cloud-scattered sky, NASA’...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Into a blue, cloud-scattered sky, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft lifts off on time at 2 p.m. EST aboard an Atlas V rocket from Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Fl... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Great white egrets and a great blue heron in the foreground seem to stand watch as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft leaps off the pad on time at 2 p.m. EST aboard an Atlas V rocket from Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This was the third launch attempt in as many days after scrubs due to weather concerns. The compact, 1,050-pound piano-sized probe will get a boost from a kick-stage solid propellant motor for its journey to Pluto. New Horizons will be the fastest spacecraft ever launched, reaching lunar orbit distance in just nine hours and passing Jupiter 13 months later. The New Horizons science payload, developed under direction of Southwest Research Institute, includes imaging infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers, a multi-color camera, a long-range telescopic camera, two particle spectrometers, a space-dust detector and a radio science experiment. The dust counter was designed and built by students at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The launch at this time allows New Horizons to fly past Jupiter in early 2007 and use the planet’s gravity as a slingshot toward Pluto. The Jupiter flyby trims the trip to Pluto by as many as five years and provides opportunities to test the spacecraft’s instruments and flyby capabilities on the Jupiter system. New Horizons could reach the Pluto system as early as mid-2015, conducting a five-month-long study possible only from the close-up vantage of a spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-06pd0080

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Great white egrets and a great blue her...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Great white egrets and a great blue heron in the foreground seem to stand watch as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft leaps off the pad on time at 2 p.m. EST aboard an Atlas V rocket ... More

Speck of a Moon - NASA Cassini Huygens images

Speck of a Moon - NASA Cassini Huygens images

Speck of a Moon NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a lab at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the first two of nine pins have been soldered to the socket of the replacement feed-through connector that will be installed in the external fuel tank for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission. Two United Launch Alliance technicians, who performed this exacting task on the Centaur upper stage for Atlas and Titan launches in 1994, will be doing the soldering. Soldering the connector pins and sockets together addresses the most likely cause of a problem in the engine cutoff sensor system, or ECO system. Some of the tank's ECO sensors failed during propellant tanking for launch attempts on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9. Results of a tanking test on Dec. 18 pointed to an open circuit in the feed-through connector wiring, which is located at the base of the tank. The feed-through connector passes the wires from the inside of the tank to the outside. After the soldering is completed and the connector is reinstalled, shuttle program managers will decide on how to proceed. The launch date for mission STS-122 is under review. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0008

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a lab at NASA's Kennedy Space Center,...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a lab at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the first two of nine pins have been soldered to the socket of the replacement feed-through connector that will be installed in the externa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the podium, Russell Romanella, director of International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing at Kennedy Space Center, moderates a panel presenting “Pushing the Limits of Knowledge To Inspire New Generations” during NASA’s Future Forum in Miami. Others on the panel include James Tien, dean of engineering at the University of Miami; Dennis Mills, with UTC/Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne; Jim Halsell, former astronaut; Robert Atlas, director of NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; and Jack Horkheimer, executive director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium. The forum focused on how space exploration benefits Florida's economy. The event, which included presentations and panels, was held at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center. Among those participating were NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale, astronaut Carl Walz, director of the Advanced Capabilities Division in NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, and Russell Romanella, director, International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0981

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the podium, Russell Romanella, director of...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the podium, Russell Romanella, director of International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing at Kennedy Space Center, moderates a panel presenting “Pushing the Limits of Knowledg... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers roll up the sides of the cover around NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS. The satellite's primary mission is to search for water ice on the moon in a permanently shadowed crater near one of the lunar poles. LCROSS is a low-cost, accelerated-development, companion mission to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO. At Kennedy, the two spacecraft will be integrated with an Atlas V launch vehicle and tested for final flight worthiness. LCROSS and LRO are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. Launch is no earlier than April 24. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2009-1742

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility ne...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers roll up the sides of the cover around NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satelli... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Russian AH-124-100 aircraft arrives at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's skid strip in Florida carrying the Centaur stage of the Atlas V rocket that will launch NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS. The two spacecraft will be integrated with the Atlas V and tested for final flight worthiness. Launch is scheduled for the spring. LCROSS and LRO are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2009-1755

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Russian AH-124-100 aircraft arrives at Cap...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Russian AH-124-100 aircraft arrives at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's skid strip in Florida carrying the Centaur stage of the Atlas V rocket that will launch NASA's Lunar Reconna... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41, the Centaur upper stage is raised from its transporter. When it is vertical, it will be lifted into the Vertical Integration Facility for installation onto the Atlas V first stage, already in the tower. The Atlas V/Centaur is the launch vehicle for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS. LCROSS and LRO are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2907

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch C...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41, the Centaur upper stage is raised from its transporter. When it is vertical, it will be lifted into the Vertical Integration Fac... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41, the Centaur upper stage is raised from its transporter. When it is vertical, it will be lifted into the Vertical Integration Facility for installation onto the Atlas V first stage, already in the tower. The Atlas V/Centaur is the launch vehicle for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS. LCROSS and LRO are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-2906

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch C...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –– On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41, the Centaur upper stage is raised from its transporter. When it is vertical, it will be lifted into the Vertical Integration Fac... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur is moving from the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to Launch Complex-41. At left are two of the four lightning towers that surround the pad for protection against possible lightning strikes. The Atlas was rolled to the launch pad from the Vertical Integration Facility in preparation for the wet dress rehearsal, which means being fully loaded with propellants including liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and RP-1 fuel. The launch vehicle will be rolled off the pad and returned to the VIF on May 16. The Atlas V/Centaur is the launch vehicle for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS. They will be mated with the Atlas in late May. LCROSS and LRO are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than June 17. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-3145

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur is moving from the Vertical...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur is moving from the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to Launch Complex-41. At left are two of the four lightning towers tha... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, Fla., NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, are being prepared for fairing installation. On the right side of the LRO is part of the solar array. At far right is part of the fairing that will be installed around the spacecraft for launch. The fairing is a molded structure that fits flush with the outside surface of the rocket and forms an aerodynamically smooth nose cone, protecting the spacecraft during launch and ascent. The LRO includes five instruments: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA and LROC. They will be launched aboard an Atlas V/Centaur rocket no earlier than June 17 from Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-3182

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titus...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, Fla., NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, are be... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, are mated with the Atlas V rocket inside the mobile service tower for launch. The LRO includes five instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA and LROC. Along with LCROSS, they will be launched aboard an Atlas V/Centaur rocket on June 17. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-3302

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Forc...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, are ready to roll out to the launch pad atop the Atlas V/Centaur rocket. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA, CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch is scheduled for 5:22 p.m. EDT June 18 . Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-3740

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Fo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCR... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Viewed across the Indian River Lagoon, the Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Surrounding the pad are lightning towers. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT June 18. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray KSC-2009-3770

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Viewed across the Indian River Lagoon, the Atla...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Viewed across the Indian River Lagoon, the Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke and steam roll across the launch pad as NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, lifts off atop the Atlas V/Centaur rocket from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Surrounding the pad are lightning towers. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT June 18. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-3769

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke and steam roll across the launch pad as N...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke and steam roll across the launch pad as NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, lifts off atop the A... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Trailing a column of fire, the Atlas V/Centaur carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, races above the lightning tower at left on Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph, Tony Gray KSC-2009-3787

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Trailing a column of fire, the Atlas V/Centaur ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Trailing a column of fire, the Atlas V/Centaur carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, races abov... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, bursts of smoke and steam signal liftoff for the Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, toward space. Surrounding the pad are lightning towers. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT June 18. Photo credit: NASA/Jeffery Marino KSC-2009-3773

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Forc...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, bursts of smoke and steam signal liftoff for the Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke pours across Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as the Atlas V/Centaur carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, roars into the sky. The towers around the pad are part of the lightning protection system. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Tom Farrar, Kevin O'Connell KSC-2009-3784

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke pours across Launch Complex 41 at Cape Ca...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Smoke pours across Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as the Atlas V/Centaur carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Ob... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Like a Roman candle, the Atlas V/Centaur rocket with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, on top shoot into the sky from Launch Pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Around the pad are the towers that provide lightning protection. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT June 18. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews KSC-2009-3791

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Like a Roman candle, the Atlas V/Centaur rocket...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Like a Roman candle, the Atlas V/Centaur rocket with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, on top shoot ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, leaps into the sky with a tail of smoke behind as it lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Surrounding the pad below are lightning towers. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions in NASA's plan to return humans to the moon and begin establishing a lunar outpost by 2020. The LRO also includes seven instruments that will help NASA characterize the moon's surface: DIVINER, LAMP, LEND, LOLA , CRATER, Mini-RF and LROC. Launch was on-time at 5:32 p.m. EDT June 18. Photo credit: NASA/Jeffery Marino KSC-2009-3775

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Luna...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlas V/Centaur rocket carrying NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, known as LCROSS, leaps into the sky with a tail... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, is moved, or gimbaled, during performance testing. All of the spacecraft science instruments are being tested in their last major evaluation before launch. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. In preparation for launch, engineers will perform a battery of comprehensive tests to ensure SDO can withstand the stresses and vibrations of the launch itself, as well as what it will encounter in the space environment after launch. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Dec. 4. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-4590

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, is moved, or gimbaled, during performance testing. All of the spacecraft science i... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., an engineer monitors the movement, or gimbaling, of the high-gain antenna on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO. All of the spacecraft science instruments are being tested in their last major evaluation before launch. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. In preparation for launch, engineers will perform a battery of comprehensive tests to ensure SDO can withstand the stresses and vibrations of the launch itself, as well as what it will encounter in the space environment after launch. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Dec. 4. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-4589

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., an engineer monitors the movement, or gimbaling, of the high-gain antenna on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO. All o... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, awaits testing of the release mechanism sequence for its solar arrays, now extended, using signal commands. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6235

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, awaits testing of the release mechanism sequence for its solar arrays, now extended... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Skid Strip on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers offload the Centaur second stage for the Atlas V rocket slated to launch NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, from a Volga-Dnepr Antonov AN-124-100, a Ukranian/Russian aircraft. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2009-6435

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Skid Strip on Cape Canaveral Air Force S...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Skid Strip on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers offload the Centaur second stage for the Atlas V rocket slated to launch NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SD... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians secure one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, to the side of the spacecraft for launch. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6485

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians secure one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, to the side of the spacecr... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians move one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, toward the spacecraft following testing to verify the spacecraft's readiness for launch. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6481

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians move one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, toward the spacecraft follow... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians lower one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, toward the spacecraft following testing to verify the spacecraft's readiness for launch. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2009-6483

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., spacecraft technicians lower one of the solar panels on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, toward the spacecraft follo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to hoist the Atlas V rocket scheduled to launch NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, into the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Glenn Benson KSC-2009-6818

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to hoist the Atlas V rocket sch...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Workers prepare to hoist the Atlas V rocket scheduled to launch NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, into the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Ai... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – This view from the top of the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, shows the Atlas V rocket scheduled to launch NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, suspended in a vertical position. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on the United Launch Alliance Atlas V is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Glenn Benson KSC-2009-6825

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – This view from the top of the Vertical Integrat...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – This view from the top of the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, shows the Atlas V rocket scheduled to launch NASA's Solar ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., technicians from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center prepare to lift the bagged Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, onto a dolly for further processing. SDO is the first space weather research network mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information about changes in the sun's magnetic field and insight into how they affect Earth. Liftoff on an Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2009-6835

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in T...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., technicians from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center prepare to lift the bagged Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, onto a d... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the control room at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., test conductors from ASTROTECH and Kennedy Space Center monitor data received from the clean room as technicians sample the monomethylhydrazine propellant that will be loaded aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO. The hydrazine fuel is being sampled for purity before it is loaded aboard the spacecraft. The technicians are dressed in self-contained atmospheric protective ensemble suits, or SCAPE suits, as a safety precaution in the unlikely event that any of the highly toxic chemical should escape from the storage tank. The nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer was loaded earlier in the week which is customarily followed by loading of the fuel. Propellant loading is one of the final processing milestones before the spacecraft is encapsulated in its fairing for launch. SDO is the first mission in NASA's Living With a Star Program and is designed to study the causes of solar variability and its impacts on Earth. The spacecraft's long-term measurements will give solar scientists in-depth information to help characterize the interior of the Sun, the Sun's magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and the density of radiation that creates the ionosphere of the planets. The information will be used to create better forecasts of space weather needed to protect the aircraft, satellites and astronauts living and working in space. Liftoff aboard an Atlas V rocket is targeted for Feb. 9 from Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For information on SDO, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1058

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the control room at the Astrotech Space Oper...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the control room at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla., test conductors from ASTROTECH and Kennedy Space Center monitor data received from the clean room as te... More

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., unpack a solar panel that will help power NASA's Juno spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter. Power-generating panels on three sets of solar arrays will extend outward from Juno’s hexagonal body, giving the overall spacecraft a span of more than 66 feet in order to operate at such a great distance from the sun. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Aug. 5, 2011, reaching Jupiter in July 2016. The spacecraft will orbit the giant planet more than 30 times, skimming to within 3,000 miles above its cloud tops, for about one year. With its suite of science instruments, the spacecraft will investigate the existence of a solid planetary core, map Jupiter's intense magnetic field, measure the amount of water and ammonia in the deep atmosphere, and observe the planet's auroras. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-2326

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing fa...

TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., unpack a solar panel that will help power NASA's Juno spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter. Power-generating panel... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., unpack a solar panel that will help power NASA's Juno spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter. Power-generating panels on three sets of solar arrays will extend outward from Juno’s hexagonal body, giving the overall spacecraft a span of more than 66 feet in order to operate at such a great distance from the sun. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Aug. 5, 2011, reaching Jupiter in July 2016. The spacecraft will orbit the giant planet more than 30 times, skimming to within 3,000 miles above its cloud tops, for about one year. With its suite of science instruments, the spacecraft will investigate the existence of a solid planetary core, map Jupiter's intense magnetic field, measure the amount of water and ammonia in the deep atmosphere, and observe the planet's auroras. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-2338

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processin...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., unpack a solar panel that will help power NASA's Juno spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter. Power-generating p... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft arrives at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. to begin final testing and preparations for launch. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller It will splash down into the Atlantic Ocean where the ship and its crew will recover it and tow it back through Port Canaveral for refurbishing for another launch. The STS-124 mission is the second of three flights launching components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The shuttle crew will install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module and its remote manipulator system, or RMS. Photo credit: USA/Jeff Suter KSC-2011-2816

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft arrives at Astrotech's ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft arrives at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. to begin final testing and preparations for launch. The solar-powered spacecraft wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. move NASA's Juno spacecraft into an airlock to begin final testing and preparations for launch. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller It will splash down into the Atlantic Ocean where the ship and its crew will recover it and tow it back through Port Canaveral for refurbishing for another launch. The STS-124 mission is the second of three flights launching components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The shuttle crew will install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module and its remote manipulator system, or RMS. Photo credit: USA/Jeff Suter KSC-2011-2828

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. move NASA's Juno spacecraft into an airlock to begin final testing and preparations for launch. The sola... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., NASA's Juno spacecraft is lifted by overhead crane for its move to the rotation stand for testing. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-2847

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., NASA's Juno spacecraft is lifted by overhead crane for its move to the rotation stand for testing. The solar-powered ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. guide the solar arrays toward NASA's Juno spacecraft for installation. Later in processing, the magnetometer will be installed; a solar array illumination and magnetometer boom deployment test also are planned. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-3757

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. guide the solar arrays toward NASA's Juno spacecraft for installation. Later in processing, the magnetometer wi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In a clean-room environment at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. technicians conduct an illumination test on the solar array panels for NASA's Juno spacecraft. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-3839

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In a clean-room environment at Astrotech's pay...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In a clean-room environment at Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. technicians conduct an illumination test on the solar array panels for NASA's Juno spacecraft. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., technicians test the connections of solar array #1 with its magnetometer boom to NASA's Juno spacecraft after installation. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2011-3937

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, F...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., technicians test the connections of solar array #1 with its magnetometer boom to NASA's Juno spacecraft after installation. Juno... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, a Volga-Dnepr Antonov AN-124-100, Ukranian/Russian cargo aircraft has landed on the Skid Strip. The aircraft is delivering the Centaur upper stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard the Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4011

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, a Volga-Dnepr Antonov AN-124-100, Ukranian/Russian cargo aircraft has landed on the Skid Strip. The aircraft is delivering the Centaur upp... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida the aeroshell, a component of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), has been secured onto a spin stand for testing. The aeroshell consists of the backshell which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, and the spacecraft's heat shield. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4335

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida the aeroshell, a component of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), has been secured onto a spin sta... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket has arrived at Launch Complex 41. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4372

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket has arrived at Launch Complex 41. NASA's Juno spacecraft is sche... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers use an overhead crane to lift the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket into the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4379

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers use an overhead crane to lift the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket into the Vertical Integration Facility at... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians using an overhead crane, move the aeroshell, a component of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), back to a work stand after a spin and balance test. The aeroshell consists of the backshell which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, and the spacecraft's heat shield. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-4393

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians using an overhead crane, move the aeroshell, a component of NASA's Mars Science Laborat... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers prepare the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for transport from its hangar at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center to Launch Complex 41. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4367

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers prepare the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket for transport from its hangar at the Atlas Spaceflight Operatio... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is being transported from its hangar at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center to Launch Complex 41. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4369

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is being transported from its hangar at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers using an overhead crane lift a solid rocket motor into the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41. It then will be attached to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster stage, already at the pad. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-4749

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers using an overhead crane lift a solid rocket motor into the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41. It then will be att... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. NASA's Juno spacecraft has been lowered by overhead crane onto a rotation stand for center of gravity, weighing and balancing testing. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-4630

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. NASA's Juno spacecraft has been lowered by overhead crane onto a rotation stand for center of gravity, weighing and balanci... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers guide an overhead crane as it lifts the Centaur upper stage for the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, slated to launch NASA's Juno spacecraft, into the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF). After in position in the VIF it will be attached to the Atlas V booster stage, already at the pad. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-4858

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air For...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers guide an overhead crane as it lifts the Centaur upper stage for the United Launch Alliance Atlas V, slated to... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians remove the protective cover from NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, before processing and testing. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-4944

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians remove the protective cover from NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Cu... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility in Titusville, Fla., technicians use an overhead crane to lift the cover from NASA's Juno spacecraft before its move to a fueling stand where the spacecraft will be loaded with the propellant necessary for orbit maneuvers and the attitude control system. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2011-4967

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility in Titusville, Fla., technicians use an overhead crane to lift the cover from NASA's Juno spacecraft before its move to a fueling stand whe... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians remove the protective cover from NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, before processing and testing. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-4943

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians remove the protective cover from NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Cu... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, is secured on a work stand for processing (background left). The spacecraft's backshell (right), which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, in addition is the rocket-powered descent stage (foreground right), also visible in the image. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-4950

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, is secured on a work stand for proce... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is installed onto the aft of the Curiosity rover for a fit check. In view are the MMRTG's cooling fins which function like the radiator on a car and will reflect any excess heat generated by the MMRTG to prevent interference with the rover's electronics. Next, the MMRTG will be removed and later installed on the rover for launch at the pad. The MMRTG will generate the power needed for the mission from the natural decay of plutonium-238, a non-weapons-grade form of the radioisotope. Heat given off by this natural decay will provide constant power through the day and night during all seasons. Curiosity, MSL's car-sized rover, has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. Waste heat from the MMRTG will be circulated throughout the rover system to keep instruments, computers, mechanical devices and communications systems within their operating temperature ranges. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is planned for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6704

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's M... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory guide a turning fixture onto the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. The fixture will be used to lift and lower the MMRTG onto the MMRTG integration cart. The cart will be used to install the MMRTG on Curiosity for a fit check. The MMRTG will be installed on the rover for launch at the pad. The MMRTG will generate the power needed for the mission from the natural decay of plutonium-238, a non-weapons-grade form of the radioisotope. Heat given off by this natural decay will provide constant power through the day and night during all seasons. Curiosity, MSL's car-sized rover, has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. Waste heat from the MMRTG will be circulated throughout the rover system to keep instruments, computers, mechanical devices and communications systems within their operating temperature ranges. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is planned for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6686

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory guide a turning... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is delivered to the airlock doors of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida inside the MMRTG trailer. In the PHSF, the MMRTG temporarily will be installed on the MSL rover, Curiosity, for a fit check but will be installed on the rover for launch at the pad. The MMRTG will generate the power needed for the mission from the natural decay of plutonium-238, a non-weapons-grade form of the radioisotope. Heat given off by this natural decay will provide constant power through the day and night during all seasons. Curiosity, MSL's car-sized rover, has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. Waste heat from the MMRTG will be circulated throughout the rover system to keep instruments, computers, mechanical devices and communications systems within their operating temperature ranges. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is planned for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6678

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is delivered to the airlock doors of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Faci... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is installed onto the aft of the Curiosity rover for a fit check. In view are the MMRTG's cooling fins which function like the radiator on a car and will reflect any excess heat generated by the MMRTG to prevent interference with the rover's electronics. Next, the MMRTG will be removed and later installed on the rover for launch at the pad. The MMRTG will generate the power needed for the mission from the natural decay of plutonium-238, a non-weapons-grade form of the radioisotope. Heat given off by this natural decay will provide constant power through the day and night during all seasons. Curiosity, MSL's car-sized rover, has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. Waste heat from the MMRTG will be circulated throughout the rover system to keep instruments, computers, mechanical devices and communications systems within their operating temperature ranges. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is planned for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6703

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servi...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the high bay of the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's M... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Dr. Charles Elachi, Director of Advanced Planning at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (right), is shown NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-5868

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Dr. Charles Elachi, Director of Advanced Planning at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (right), is s... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is position behind mobile plexiglass radiation shields in the high bay of the RTG storage facility (RTGF) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The MMRTG was returned to the RTGF following a fit check on MSL's Curiosity rover in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF). The generator will remain in the RTGF until is moved to the pad for integration on the rover. The MMRTG will generate the power needed for the mission from the natural decay of plutonium-238, a non-weapons-grade form of the radioisotope. Heat given off by this natural decay will provide constant power through the day and night during all seasons. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. Waste heat from the MMRTG will be circulated throughout the rover system to keep instruments, computers, mechanical devices and communications systems within their operating temperature ranges. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is targeted for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2011-6745

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is position behind mobile plexiglass radiation shields in the high bay of... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity, is being prepared to be moved to a rotation fixture for testing. The spacecraft's backshell (right), which carries the parachute and several components used during later stages of entry, descent and landing, also is visible in the image. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-5878

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity, is being prepared to be moved to a ... More

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- Technicians, at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, have lowered NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity, onto the high bay floor where its instrument mast and science boom will undergo deployment testing. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin KSC-2011-5919

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- Technicians, at the Payload Hazardous Servicin...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- Technicians, at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, have lowered NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity, onto the ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, half of the Atlas payload fairing appears to loom above the Juno spacecraft as work to enclose the spacecraft for launch gets under way. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent and will be jettisoned once the spacecraft is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-5900

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility n...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, half of the Atlas payload fairing appears to loom above the Juno spacecraft as work to enclose the spac... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a lifting device rests atop the nose of the Atlas payload fairing enclosing the Juno spacecraft during operations to lift the spacecraft onto a transporter for its trip to Space Launch Complex 41. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent and will be jettisoned once the spacecraft is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux KSC-2011-5949

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility n...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a lifting device rests atop the nose of the Atlas payload fairing enclosing the Juno spacecraft during ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians secure the Atlas payload fairing enclosing the Juno spacecraft on a transporter during operations to move the spacecraft to Space Launch Complex 41. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent and will be jettisoned once the spacecraft is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Juno is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Frank Michaux KSC-2011-5953

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility n...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians secure the Atlas payload fairing enclosing the Juno spacecraft on a transporter ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Juno spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas payload fairing, rolls past the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building in Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 on its way to Space Launch Complex 41. The spacecraft was prepared for launch in the Astrotech Space Operations' payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent and will be jettisoned once the spacecraft is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Juno is scheduled to launch Aug. 5 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6041

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Juno spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas payl...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Juno spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas payload fairing, rolls past the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building in Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39 on its way to Space Launch C... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Space Launch Complex 41, a crane is lowered toward the Juno spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas payload fairing, to lift it on top of the Atlas rocket stacked in the Vertical Integration Facility. The spacecraft was prepared for launch in the Astrotech Space Operations' payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during ascent and will be jettisoned once the spacecraft is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Juno is scheduled to launch Aug. 5 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston KSC-2011-6044

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Space Launch Complex 41, a crane is lowered...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At Space Launch Complex 41, a crane is lowered toward the Juno spacecraft, enclosed in an Atlas payload fairing, to lift it on top of the Atlas rocket stacked in the Vertical Integration... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Atlas V first stage to support the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is positioned inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6080

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Atlas V first stage to support the Mars Sc...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Atlas V first stage to support the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission is positioned inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle is in position beside the exhaust duct on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. Atop the rocket is NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6197

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle is in position beside the exhaust duct on the launch pad at Space Laun... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Steve Levin, Juno project scientist from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., speaks to about 150 followers of the agency’s Twitter account during Juno Tweetup activities inside a tent at the Press Site. The tweeters are at the center for two days of prelaunch activities. Juno is NASA’s mission to Jupiter to study the giant planet and improve our understanding of the planet’s formation and evolution. The tweeters will share their experiences with followers through the social networking site Twitter. Attendees represent 28 states, the District of Columbia and five other countries: Canada, Finland, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. This is the first time NASA has invited Twitter followers to experience the launch of a planetary spacecraft. The Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Aug. 5, at 11:34 a.m. EDT. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-6221

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Stev...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Steve Levin, Juno project scientist from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., speaks to about 150 followers of the agency’s Twitte... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Toby Owen, Juno co-investigator from the University of Hawaii, speaks to about 150 followers of the agency’s Twitter account during Juno Tweetup activities inside a tent at the Press Site. The tweeters are at the center for two days of prelaunch activities. Juno is NASA’s mission to Jupiter to study the giant planet and improve our understanding of the planet’s formation and evolution. The tweeters will share their experiences with followers through the social networking site Twitter. Attendees represent 28 states, the District of Columbia and five other countries: Canada, Finland, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom. This is the first time NASA has invited Twitter followers to experience the launch of a planetary spacecraft. The Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, Aug. 5, at 11:34 a.m. EDT. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-6223

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Toby...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Toby Owen, Juno co-investigator from the University of Hawaii, speaks to about 150 followers of the agency’s Twitter account during Juno Tweetup... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing, sits atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, awaiting its move to Space Launch Complex 41. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6175

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility on Cape C...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing, sits atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas V... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing, is poised for launch above the United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6201

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payloa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing, is poised for launch above the United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, is protected from potential stormy weather by the wire catenary system traversing the towers of the lightning protection system at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Atlantic Ocean behind the pad extends into the distance. Launch is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6211

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payloa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, is protected from potential stormy weather by the wire catenary system t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, is protected from potential stormy weather by the wire catenary system traversing the towers of the lightning protection system at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Launch is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6209

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payloa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, is protected from potential stormy weather by the wire catenary system t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, stands on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida ready for launch. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 11:34 a.m. to 12:43 p.m. EDT on Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-2011-6237

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payloa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, enclosed in its payload fairing atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle, stands on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Ai... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Reflected in water surrounding Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, fire lights up the sky as a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lofts NASA's Juno planetary probe into space. Liftoff was at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: Courtesy Scott Andrews KSC-2011-6319

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Reflected in water surrounding Space Launch Co...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Reflected in water surrounding Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, fire lights up the sky as a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lofts NASA's Juno... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Rising from fire and smoke, NASA's Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its payload fairing, launches atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Leaving from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the spacecraft will embark on a five-year journey to Jupiter. Liftoff was at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: Courtesy Scott Andrews KSC-2011-6316

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Rising from fire and smoke, NASA's Juno planet...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Rising from fire and smoke, NASA's Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its payload fairing, launches atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Leaving from Space Launch Complex 41 on C... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe is moments away from beginning its five-year journey to Jupiter atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff was at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The Juno mission is part of the New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Launch management for the mission is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/George Roberts and Rusty Backer KSC-2011-6280

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe is moments away fr...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe is moments away from beginning its five-year journey to Jupiter atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V-551 launch vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Jan Chodas, Juno's project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), talks to media representative during a post-launch news conference following the successful liftoff of the Juno spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Launch was at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft now is on a five-year journey to Jupiter, where it will orbit the planet's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-6291

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Jan Chodas, Juno's project manager at the Jet ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Jan Chodas, Juno's project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), talks to media representative during a post-launch news conference following the successful liftoff of the Juno... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its payload fairing, is moments away from liftoff atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Leaving from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the spacecraft will embark on a five-year journey to Jupiter. Liftoff was at 12:25 p.m. EDT Aug. 5. The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray and Tim Powers KSC-2011-6308

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its p...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Juno planetary probe, enclosed in its payload fairing, is moments away from liftoff atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Leaving from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Cana... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians examine the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, to ensure that the proper steps have been taken to stow the spacecraft's robotic arm. The arm will hold and maneuver instruments that will help scientists analyze Martian rocks and soil. Much like a human arm, the robotic arm has flexibility through shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints that permit the arm to extend, bend, and angle precisely against rocks and soil to grind away layers, take microscopic images and analyze their elemental composition. At the end of the arm is a hand-like structure, the turret, for holding various tools that can spin through a 350-degree turning range. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2011-6472

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spacecraft technicians examine the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity, to ensure that t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, technicians using an overhead crane guide the final solid rocket motor into position for mating to the first stage of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V will carry NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission into space. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2011-6997

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Vertical Integration Facility at Spa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Inside the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, technicians using an overhead crane guide the final solid rocket motor ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparing for integration to NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, technicians help guide a rocket-powered descent stage over the rover at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The descent stage will lower Curiosity to the surface of Mars. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-7087

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparing for integration to NASA's Mars Scienc...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Preparing for integration to NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover known as Curiosity, technicians help guide a rocket-powered descent stage over the rover at NASA's Kennedy Space Ce... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a rocket-powered descent stage, after being lowered by an overhead crane, is integrated with NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity. The descent stage will lower Curiosity to the surface of Mars. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-7094

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a rocket-powered descent stage, after being lowered by an overhead crane, is integrated with NASA's ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Under the watchful eyes of technicians at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a rocket-powered descent stage, after being lowered by an overhead crane, is integrated with NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, known as Curiosity. The descent stage will lower Curiosity to the surface of Mars. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V-541 configuration will be used to loft MSL into space. Curiosity’s 10 science instruments are designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. MSL is scheduled to launch Nov. 25 with a window extending to Dec. 18 and arrival at Mars Aug. 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-7093

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Under the watchful eyes of technicians at the P...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Under the watchful eyes of technicians at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a rocket-powered descent stage, after being lowered by an ove... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft has been attached to its Atlas V rocket. MSL was prepared for launch in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. MSL's components include a compact car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for evidence on whether Mars has had environments favorable to microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release its gasses so that the rover’s spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is planned for Nov. 25 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-7668

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility at Space ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft has been attached to its Atlas V rocket. M... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The NASA and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) logos appear above the American flag and Atlas logo on the payload fairing atop the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Enclosed inside the fairing is the MSL spacecraft, awaiting its launch on a mission to the Red Planet. The rocket is on its way from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The vehicle arrived at the launch pad at 8:40 a.m. EST. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST on Nov. 26. MSL's components include a car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin KSC-2011-7909

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The NASA and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) log...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The NASA and Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) logos appear above the American flag and Atlas logo on the payload fairing atop the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Enclos... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Backdropped by the Atlantic Ocean, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rolls toward the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Atop the rocket is NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), enclosed in its payload fairing. The rocket began its move from the Vertical Integration Facility at 8 a.m. EST, arriving at the launch pad at 8:40 a.m. Liftoff is planned during a launch window which extends from 10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST on Nov. 26. MSL's components include a car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: Courtesy Scott Andrews KSC-2011-7917

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Backdropped by the Atlantic Ocean, the 197-foo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Backdropped by the Atlantic Ocean, the 197-foot-tall United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rolls toward the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in F... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Expedition 25 astronaut Doug Wheelock talks to the participants of a NASA Tweetup in a tent set up at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site in Florida during prelaunch activities for the agency’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch. Participants in the Tweetup are given the opportunity to listen to agency briefings, tour locations on the center normally off limits to visitors, and get a close-up view of Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The tweeters will share their experiences with followers through the social networking site Twitter. The MSL mission will pioneer precision landing technology and a sky-crane touchdown to place a car-sized rover, Curiosity, near the foot of a mountain inside Gale Crater on Aug. 6, 2012. During a nearly two-year prime mission after landing, the rover will investigate whether the region has ever offered conditions favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. Liftoff of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from pad 41 is planned during a launch window which extends from 10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST on Nov. 26. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin KSC-2011-7946

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Expedition 25 astronaut Doug Wheelock talks to ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Expedition 25 astronaut Doug Wheelock talks to the participants of a NASA Tweetup in a tent set up at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site in Florida during prelaunch activities for the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlantic Ocean provides a backdrop as NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, sealed inside its payload fairing, launches atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. MSL lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:02 a.m. EST Nov. 26, beginning a 9-month interplanetary cruise to Mars. MSL's components include a car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Darrell L. McCall KSC-2011-7971

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlantic Ocean provides a backdrop as NASA'...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Atlantic Ocean provides a backdrop as NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft, sealed inside its payload fairing, launches atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. MSL li... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A post-launch news conference begins at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful launch of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. From left are NASA Public Affairs Officer George Diller; Pete Theisinger, MSL project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.; John Grotzinger, MSL project scientist at the California Institute of Technology, also in Pasadena; and Doug McCuisition, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters. MSL lifted off aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:02 a.m. EST Nov. 26. MSL's components include a car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-8001

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A post-launch news conference begins at NASA's...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A post-launch news conference begins at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful launch of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. From left are NASA Public ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft sealed inside its payload fairing, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rides smoke and flames as it rises from the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:02 a.m. EST Nov. 26. MSL's components include a car-sized rover, Curiosity, which has 10 science instruments designed to search for signs of life, including methane, and help determine if the gas is from a biological or geological source. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/msl. Courtesy: Scott Andrews/Canon KSC-2011-8031

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spac...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft sealed inside its payload fairing, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket rides smoke and flames as it rises from the launch pad a... More

Four soldiers receive 'Order of Saint Michael' award

Four soldiers receive 'Order of Saint Michael' award

Four 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade soldiers were inducted into the Order of Saint Michael on Bagram Air Field, April 21. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of Ar... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The twin RBSP spacecraft will be transported to the Astrotech payload processing facility near Kennedy Space Center where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2628

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe A, enclosed in a protective shipping container, toward a flatbed truck at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center... More

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