InSight Countdown to T-Zero, Episode 1: From the West Coast to the Red Planet
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket reaches another major milestone on the road to T-Zero, as NASA’s InSight spacecraft prepares for launch. Stacking the rocket begins with the booster – the largest component – and continues with the addition of the Centaur upper stage. InSight is slated to launch aboard the Atlas V 401 rocket Saturday, May 5, at 7:05 a.m. EDT (4:05 a.m. PDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Watch the T-Zero video at https://youtu.be/U3tNa0sxmu0.
Insight Countdown to T-Zero, Episode 2: Into the Fairing
The launch campaign heats up for NASA’s InSight spacecraft and United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Mars-bound probe is secured inside its protective payload fairing, then moved overnight to the launch pad, where it’s lifted into position atop the waiting Atlas V. Also on board are two small communications-relay satellites – MarCO-A and MarCO-B – intended to become the first CubeSats to venture into deep space. View the T-Zero video at https://youtu.be/YKVhjdWitsg.