An Atlas 5 rocket, flying in one of its biggest and most powerful configurations, lifted off from Cape Canaveral's Pad 41 November 26 with the $2.5 billion, car-sized,
nuclear-powered rover nicknamed Curiosity and sent it out of Earth orbit towards Mars without a hitch. One of the most
expensive planetary missions ever launched, MSL is due to touch down at a location known as Gale Crater on August 5, 2012, using a daring, first-of-its-kind landing system that employs a 'sky-crane' which will lower the rover from its descent stage to the surface (as opposed to the thruster or airbag landing systems of past Mars landers).
| Launch vehicle: | Atlas-V/541 |
| Launch vehicle ID: | AV-028 |
| Payload: | MSL (Curiosity) |
| Launch date: | 26 Nov 2011 |
| Launch site: | CC, SLC-41 |
Ref: #12, #254 - update: 29.01.12
