Emily Lakdawalla • Nov 18, 2013
MAVEN is on the way to Mars
A picture-perfect launch on an Atlas V rocket has sent MAVEN on her way to Mars. Two weeks ago, a rocket leapt off the launch pad to take India's Mars Orbiter Mission aloft. By comparison, today's launch seemed to take place in slow motion. Here's a replay:
Following the two-stage burn of Atlas and Centaur, the spacecraft coasted for about half an hour before Centaur fired again to place MAVEN on a direct-to-Mars trajectory. After separating from the Centaur, MAVEN quickly established contact with Earth through her low-gain antenna. A few minutes later, the solar panels deployed and started charging her batteries, and she was truly on her own and on her way to Mars.
![Tracking Mars missions from Canberra](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x874_crop_center-center_82_line/20131118_CanberraDSN_Tracking_MAVEN_MRO_MarsO_19-11-13A.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x437_crop_center-center_82_line/20131118_CanberraDSN_Tracking_MAVEN_MRO_MarsO_19-11-13A.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x279_crop_center-center_60_line/20131118_CanberraDSN_Tracking_MAVEN_MRO_MarsO_19-11-13A.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x209_crop_center-center_60_line/20131118_CanberraDSN_Tracking_MAVEN_MRO_MarsO_19-11-13A.jpg 576w)
Over the next three months, mission controllers will test out spacecraft systems and scientific instruments, culminating in the first use of the high-gain antenna. According to MAVEN's Twitter feed, today's on-time launch puts the mission on course for a September 22, 2014 arrival at Mars. The first trajectory correction maneuver will take place in two weeks, on December 3.
![MAVEN launches to Mars](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x1599_crop_center-center_82_line/20131119_maven_launch.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x799_crop_center-center_82_line/20131119_maven_launch.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x511_crop_center-center_60_line/20131119_maven_launch.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x383_crop_center-center_60_line/20131119_maven_launch.jpg 576w)
The Time is Now.
As a Planetary Defender, you’re part of our mission to decrease the risk of Earth being hit by an asteroid or comet.
Donate Today