The rising sun paints the horizon pink as the Boeing Delta II rocket stands ready for launch after tower rollback. It is carrying the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft that will begin a 7-month journey to Mars. Liftoff is scheduled for 11:02 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will orbit Mars, mapping the surface looking for geological features that could indicate the presence of water, now or in the past. Science gathered by three science instruments on board will be key to future missions to Mars, including orbital reconnaissance, lander and human missions
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NASA ID
KSC-01pp0748
Date Created
April 7, 2001
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
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Medium
960px