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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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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