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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
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Watching the Launch: In Person | NASA TV | Online

This image is a view of Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The large Atlas V rocket that will carry the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter through Earth's atmosphere sits tall and majestic against a light blue sky blotted with very faint white clouds. The lower stage of the rocket (closest to the ground) is half copper-colored and half white. The upper stage, which is roughly half the size of the lower stage, is white and gold. White smoke billows from the adaptor area where the stages meet as the 'wet dress rehearsal' is conducted. To the left and right of the rocket sit two large towers that serve as lightning rods to protect the rocket and spacecraft from strikes.
During a "wet dress rehearsal," the Atlas V rocket that lifted the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was fired. Pre-liftoff operations were conducted and the rocket's engine was fueled.

The launch phase began when the spacecraft transferred to internal power on the launch pad and ended when the spacecraft was declared stable, healthy, and ready to accept commands. Watch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter animation to see a simulation of the launch.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched in August, 2005 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch took place during Earth's northern summer and during Mars' northern winter. The spacecraft used a Lockheed-Martin Atlas V-401 launch vehicle.

The launch period--the time period in which the orbiter could launch--lasted approximately three weeks (Aug. 10-30, 2005). Throughout the entire launch period, the mission had daily launch opportunities, known as "windows," of at least 30 minutes, the minimum needed for launch.

What Occurred During Launch

Many people think of lift-off as the launch, but there were actually several steps during the launch phase.

Step One: Countdown and systems checks
Step Two: Lift Off through Atlas Stage 1 Booster, which accelerated the spacecraft to supersonic speeds of about 4,500 meters per second (10,000 miles per hour)
Step Three: Booster Engine Cut Off for the Atlas Stage I Booster
Step Four: Atlas Stage I Separation from the Centaur Stage II; Atlas fell back to Earth into the Atlantic Ocean
Step Five: Main Engine Start of the Centaur Stage II
Step Six: Centaur First Burn Phase, which lasted nine-and-a-half minutes, boosted the spacecraft into a "parking orbit" in which the spacecraft and Centaur coasted for about 33 minutes between the first and second Centaur burns
Step Seven: Jettison of the Payload Fairing, which fell back to Earth into the Atlantic Ocean
Step Eight: Main engine Cut Off for the Centaur First Burn
Step Nine: Centaur Second Burn Phase, which lasted about 10 minutes, accelerated the spacecraft out of Earth orbit and set it on its way to Mars
Step Ten: Main Engine Separation of the Centaur Stage II
Step Eleven: Centaur collision avoidance maneuver, which ensured that the Centaur did not get in the way of the spacecraft or assume a flight path that would cause it to eventually impact Mars

At this point, the launch phase ended, and the spacecraft continued in its cruise phase.

Launch Timeline
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