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Emily Lakdawalla • Jun 10, 2013

Ten years since Spirit's launch

Ten years ago today, I was in Florida, celebrating with the Mars Exploration Rover science team the successful launch of the first of the twin rovers to Mars. It was one of the most exciting experiences of my life; I'll never forget it. I filed the story below that evening, one of the earliest articles I wrote for planetary.org.

The Boeing Delta II rocket on the horizon
The Boeing Delta II rocket on the horizon Inset: a closeup of the rocket showing the vapor plume.Image: Emily Lakdawalla

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