KSC-2011-7893

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Media representatives participate in a prelaunch news conference for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) in the Press Site auditorium at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left are NASA Public Affairs Officer George Diller; Colleen Hartman, assistant associate administrator, NASA Science Mission Directorate; Omar Baez, NASA launch director; Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA Missions, United Launch Alliance; Peter Theisinger, MSL project manager; and Clay Flinn, launch weather officer 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. 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. Launch of MSL aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for Nov. 26 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