NASA launches spacecraft to study Mars atmosphere

NASA launches spacecraft to study Mars atmosphere

NASA on Tuesday launched its unmanned  MAVEN spacecraft toward Mars io study the Red Planet's atmosphere for clues as to why Earth's neighbor lost its warmth and water over time.

The white Atlas V 401 rocket earning the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter blasted off on schedule at 1:28 pm (2358 1ST).

"Everything is looking good" said NASA mission control. The flawless liftoff of the USD 671 million spacecraft kicked off the 10-month journey to the Red Planet. Arrival at Mars is scheduled for September 2014. with the science mission of the solar-wing paneled orbiter set to begin two months later. The probe is different from past NASA missions because it focuses not on the dry surface but on the mysteries of the never-before-studied upper atmosphere. Much of MAVEN's year-long mission will be spent circling the planet 6.000 kilometers above the surface. However, it will execute five deep dips to a distance of just 125 kilometers above the Martian landscape to get readings of the atmosphere at various levels. Researchers have described the mission as a search for a missing piece to the puzzle of what happened to Mars atmosphere, perhaps billions of years ago. to transform Earth's neighbour from a water-bearing planet that might have been favourable for life to a dry. barren desert. "MAVEN is the first spacecraft devoted to exploring and understanding the Martian upper atmosphere." the US space agency said.