Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft. Payload fairing containing the MSL spacecraft being moved to the launch pad. The fairing protects the spacec

---

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft. Payload fairing containing the MSL spacecraft being moved to the launch pad. The fairing protects the spacecraft during launch and ascent through the Earth's atmosphere. The MSL launched on 26th November 2011 and landed on Mars on 6th August 2012 on a mission to determine if Mars is, or was ever, able to support microbial life. Photographed in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA, on 3rd November 2011.

---

Size: 4217px × 2901px
Photo credit: © NASA/Kim Shiflett/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 21st, 3, 2011, adult, america, american, center, century, curiosity, exploration, facility, fairing, flight, florida, hazardous, human, kennedy, laboratory, mars, moving, msl, north, november, outdoors, payload, people, person, preparation, preparing, protection, protective, science, servicing, space, spacecraft, spaceflight, states, technological, technology, united, usa, vehicle