Photos: NASA's Curiosity Rover Launches to Mars

Curiosity Rover On Its Way to Mars

This onboard view shows the successful spacecraft separation about 45 minutes after launch. The Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, is now on its way to Mars.

Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover Launch Pad

The Atlas 5 rocket carrying the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity rover, stands poised at the launch pad, just over a minute before launch.

Curiosity Rover Atop Atlas 5 Rocket

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was hoisted atop its Atlas 5 rocket on Nov. 3, 2011.

Mars Rover Curiosity Heads to Cape Canaveral

In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Atlas 5 rocket's payload fairing containing NASA's Mars rover Curiosity stands securely atop the transporter that will carry it to Space Launch Complex 41 on Nov. 3, 2011.

Curiosity's Atlas 5 Rocket

The Curiosity rover, nestled atop its Atlas 5 rocket, was rolled out to its launchpad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov. 25, 2011, to prepare for its blastoff on Nov. 26.

Mars Rover Curiosity Hoisted Atop Atlas 5 Rocket

In this still from a NASA video, the Mars rover Curiosity, encased in its payload fairing, is hoisted up to be placed atop its Atlas 5 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 3, 2011.

Mars Science Laboratory About to Be Lifted at Dawn

At Space Launch Complex 41, the payload fairing containing NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft has been attached to a lifting device in preparation for a planned Nov. 25, 2011, launch.