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What happened during launch?

April 26, 2017happened launch

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What happened during launch?

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Each rover package was lofted into space aboard a Delta 2 rocket. This same rocket family was used for Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder in 1996, Mars Climate Orbiter in 1998 (which missed Mars), Mars Polar Lander in 1999 (which failed during landing), and Mars Odyssey in 2001 (Whew! Currently orbiting Mars). The general idea was to go up. In each case, just 32.4 seconds after launch, the rocket and payload broke the sound barrier. After reaching space, the setup went into a circular “parking orbit” where it all coasted for awhile. Then another rocket burn sent the craft toward Mars. The robot and the rocket separated about 39 minutes after launch.