NASA announced June 2 it awarded a contract with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Inc. to use an Atlas 5 to launch the Mars Science Laboratory mission in the fall of 2009.
The rocket will carry a six-wheeled rover that will explore Mars for two years to search for areas where signs of life may exist.
The total price for the Mars Laboratory launch, acquired under the NASA Launch Services contract, is $194.7 million, which includes launch services and mission integration requirements.
