NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft with the Curiosity rover is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Nov. 25. The launch window extends from 10:25 a.m. to 12:08 p.m. EST (7:25 a.m. to 9:08 a.m. PST). The launch period extends through Dec. 18.

The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in August 2012. Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars has had environments favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release their gasses so that a spectrometer can analyze them and send the data back to Earth.

Various news conferences and other events are being held at NASA facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Houston. All will be carried live on NASA TV. Downlink information, schedule information and streaming video: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The events will also be streamed live on Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

Reporters may also watch the events via satellite, with question-and-answer capability, from participating NASA field centers, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Reporters who would like to watch via satellite from JPL must arrange access by contacting the JPL Media Relations Office in advance at the contacts listed above. In addition, valid media credentials are required, and non-U.S. citizens must also bring a passport.

Please note that JPL, including the Media Relations Office, is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24. Media Relations will be staffed at JPL on launch morning, Friday, Nov. 25. If necessitated by launch delay, the office would also be open during the morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 27.

Reporters can also ask questions during the news conferences remotely via a phone bridge provided by Johnson Space Center, by calling the Johnson newsroom 15 minutes prior to the start of each briefing at +1 281-483-5111.

All of the following events will take place at Kennedy Space Center, unless otherwise indicated. A more detailed list, with participant names and affiliation, is online: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-349b

* Monday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST): “What Do We Know About Mars?”
* Tuesday, Nov. 22, 8 a.m. PST(11 a.m. EST): “Looking for Signs of Life in the Universe”
* Tuesday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST): Prelaunch News Conference, followed by Curiosity Mission Science Briefing.
* Wednesday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST): “Why Mars Excites and Inspires Us”
* Wednesday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST): “Missions to Mars: Robotics and Humans Together” (Originating from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston)

A post-launch news conference will be held at the NASA Kennedy Space Center News Center approximately 2.5 hours after launch. A news release will be issued as soon as the spacecraft health is confirmed.

NASA Television Launch Coverage

On Friday, Nov. 25, NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 5 a.m. PST (8 a.m. EST) and conclude after spacecraft separation from the Atlas V occurs 53 minutes, 49 seconds after launch. Live launch coverage will be carried on all NASA TV channels.

Audio only of news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing +1 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, mission audio of the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary will be carried on +1 321-867-7135 starting at 4:15 a.m. PST (7:15 a.m. EST). Launch coverage also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz broadcast within Brevard County.

NASA Web Coverage

Extensive prelaunch and launch day coverage of the liftoff of the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft aboard an Atlas V rocket will be available on NASA’s home page: http://www.nasa.gov

A prelaunch webcast will be streamed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 9 a.m. PST (noon EST). Live countdown coverage through NASA’s Launch Blog begins at 5 a.m. PST (8 a.m. EST) on Friday, Nov. 25. Coverage features live updates as countdown milestones occur, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch preparations and liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact Jeanne Ryba at +1 321-867-7824.

View the webcast and the blog or learn more about Mars Science Laboratory on the mission home page: http://www.nasa.gov/msl

Social Media

The NASA launch Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown: http://www.twitter.com/nasakennedy

Updates will also be posted on the mission’s Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity

and on Facebook: http://www.faceboook.com/marscuriosity

Recorded Status

Recorded status reports on the launch and updates to the media advisory will be provided on the Kennedy Space Center media phone line starting Monday, Nov. 21, at +1 321-867-2525.

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JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, manages the Mars Science Laboratory mission. Launch management is the responsibility of NASA’s Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Atlas V launch service is provided by United Launch Alliance, Denver.