An Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday to dispatch a sophisticated NASA science probe on a journey to look for water on Mars. After two days of delays due to minor technical concerns, the 188-foot (57-metre) Atlas 5 booster, built by Lockheed Martin, blasted off its seaside launch pad on time at 7:43 a.m. (1143 GMT) and soared into clear skies over the Atlantic Ocean. "What a difference a day makes," said NASA launch manager Chuck Dovale. "It couldn't have been any smoother." Nestled in a protective cargo hold perched on the rocket's nose was the 4,796-pound (2,180 kg) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, also built by Lockheed Martin. The spacecraft's primary goal is to continue the search for evidence showing how long Mars had water, which scientists believe is key to learning if life ever existed on Mars. When the satellite arrives in Mars seven months from now, it will join two other U.S. orbiters, Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey, Europe's Mars Express spacecraft and the twin robot rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. --more 2335 Local Time 2035 GMT
