#NASA’s #MSL #Curiosity #rover was sent to #Mars aboard a #ULA #Atlas V #rocket in its 541 configuration. This meant that the rocket flew with a 5 meter diameter fairing, 4 solid rocket boosters, and a single engine on its #Centaur upper stage.
In the 5 meter fairing version, the Centaur is encapsulated in the payload fairing along with the payload.
Painted on the fairing are the logos for the #AtlasProgram and the United Launch Alliance, as well as the #US flag and the serial number, AV-028.
#MarsScienceLaboratory, #UnitedLaunchAlliance, #AtlasRocket, #Atlas5, #AtlasV, #MarsRover, #Photography, #Photograph, #Photo
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlas-v-5-meter-fairing-neck-heron-and-fox.html

A #ULA #AtlasV 4-meter fairing, hand-painted with the #NASA logo, the #RBSP program logo, the #UnitedStatesFlag, and the #AtlasProgram #logo. The 4-meter fairing provides less volume for payloads than the 5 meter version, but weighs less.
After launch, the Radiation Belt Storm Probes were renamed the Van Allen Probes once in orbit, and continue to study the Van Allen Belts and Earth’s magnetosphere.
#RadiationBeltStormProbes, #RBSP, #NASA, #UnitedLaunchAlliance, #VanAllenProbes, #rocket, #Atlasrocket #AtlasVrocket #MightyAtlas (#ToryBrunoCallsItThatNotFox).
https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlas-v-with-rbsp-in-fairing-heron-and-fox.html