Photos: NASA Launches Twin Grail Gravity Probes to the Moon

Grail-A Moon Probe & a Blue Earth

This amazing view shows NASA's Grail-A probe with the blue Earth as a backdrop after the moon gravity probe separated from its Delta 2 rocket. This view was taken by a camera on the Delta 2 rocket shortly after the Grail mission launch from Florida on Sept. 10, 2011.

NASA Grail Moon Probes Soar on Delta 2

An unmanned Delta 2 rocket soars toward space carrying NASA's twin Grail moon gravity probes in a successful launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sept. 10, 2011. The launch was delayed two days.

Grail Moon Probes' Launch: Arc Into Clouds

The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 Heavy rocket propels NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission into the clouds in a graceful arc over Space Launch Complex 17B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Liftoff was at 9:08:52 EDT Sept. 10, 2011.

Grail's Rocket Launch: The Arrow

Like an arrow across the sky, a Delta 2 rocket hurtles spaceward to launch NASA's twin Grail moon probes into space. The rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 9:08 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2011.

Next Stop, Moon

NASA's Grail mission blasts off atop an unmanned Delta 2 rocket at 9:08 a.m. ET on Sept. 10, 2011 in a succesful launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Grail Rocket's SRBs Separate

This NASA video camera still shows the solid rocket boosters separating from the Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA's twin Grail moon probes during a successful 9:08 a.m. ET launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Grail's Delta 2 Rocket Streak

The unmanned Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA's twin Grail moon probes streaks through the Florida sky after a smooth launch. The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 9:08 a.m. ET on Sept. 10, 2011.

Grail Rocket's Light Show

The air-lit motors on the Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA's Grail moon probes into space create a dazzling light effect in this NASA camera view. Grail launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sept. 10, 2011 at 9:08 a.m. ET.

Inside NASA's Grail Mission Launch Control

This view from a NASA camera offers a glimpse inside the launch control center for NASA's Grail moon gravity probe launch on Sept. 10, 2011. The twin Grail probes launched on an unmanned Delta 2 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

NASA's Grail Moon Probes and Rocket at Night

At Space Launch Complex 17B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the mobile service tower is aglitter as it rolls away from the United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket that will launch NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory mission. The rocket was slated to launch Sept. 8, but was delayed by two days.