Update 8/4/2012: Mars Rover preparing to land.

[C.Puffs]

LIVE FEED

http://www.livestream.com/floridatoday_space

Now talking about the "nuke" powerplant onboard the probe

"very very basic type of plutonium, can not explode, very small amount. Only way it can arm you is if it is vaporized and you inhale it"

Yeah...

They're correct. An RTG isn't a nuclear reactor.


Here as well:

http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/NASA_Webcast.shtml

(2:50 minutes and counting)

I hope we get to see some HD video when it gets there:

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/...meras/mastcam/


(It doesn't say if it's got microphones. It would be cool to see and hear Mars in HD/surround.)

[szr]

Looks like they're set to go. 4 minutes

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[Martel]

T-4 minutes and counting : http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[tea drinker]

3 minute warning!

[Martel]

Geez szr, you beat me ...

[picanha the second]

Uiuiui watching live now....good luck and all the best!

Lift off

[tea drinker]

SRB separation all looks good

[xav]

The big white tank (and engine) we now see in CGI, is it gonna separate soon or is it staying like this all the way to Mars ?

[xav]

They cut off the engine but tank is still attached...

[Martel]

There will be a second burn, for the moment the stack is still in low earth orbit.

[Martel]

Remaining events (per http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/...ttimeline.html )


T+31:04.6 Centaur Ignition 2
The Centaur re-ignites to accelerate the payload out of Earth orbit from the parking altitude achieved earlier in the launch sequence.

T+39:05.0 Centaur Cutoff 2
At the conclusion of its second firing, the Centaur will have propelled the MSL spacecraft on an Earth escape trajectory to begin the 8.5-month journey to Mars.

T+42:47.7 Spacecraft Separation
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory with its Curiosity rover is released into orbit from the Centaur upper stage to complete the AV-028 launch.

[xav]

It is just like watching KSP (Nasa's CGI animation of the spacecraft)

[Hellfish]

Conrad jumped and cheered as the rocket blasted off a few miles away.
"It's amazing," she said, "and it's a huge relief to see it all going up in the same direction."

Hehehe. Damn... I woke up just a couple minutes too late. I blame beer.

[xav]

You can still catch live separation in two minutes (they stream video from the spacecraft!)

http://www.livestream.com/floridatoday_space

[xav]

1 minute...