In a heavy fog, as is common where Vandenberg AFB lies on the California coast, an Atlas V rocket blasted off this morning and successfully deployed the InSight spacecraft into a trajectory that will take it to Mars for a landing in November.
(See earlier postings here and here about the Insight mission.)
Two MarCO CubeSats, which will demonstrate communications and propulsion technologies for deep space missions with smallsats, were also deployed. First contact attempt will be noon Pacific time.
Other reports, photos & videos of the launch:
- United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches West Coast’s First Interplanetary Mission for NASA – ULA
- Atlas V launches first West Coast interplanetary mission with InSight spacecraft to Mars – NASASpaceFlight.com
- Live coverage: InSight Mars mission lifts off from California aboard Atlas 5 rocket – Spaceflight Now
- Go Atlas, go Centaur, go InSight! | The Planetary Society
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