The spacecraft will ride into the sky inside a protective payload fairing atop the Centaur stage.
The spacecraft will ride into the sky inside a protective payload fairing atop the Centaur stage.
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Payload Fairing

The spacecraft rides into the sky inside a protective payload fairing atop the Centaur stage. With the payload fairing on top, the vehicle stands approximately 191 feet (58 meters) tall when it is ready for launch.

Atlas V-541 Payload Fairing from NASA’s Mars 2020 mission




At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover was prepared for encapsulation in the United Launch Alliance Atlas V payload fairing on June 18, 2020.

View image: 'Mars 2020 Perseverance Encapsulation'

Mars 2020 Perseverance Encapsulation



The United Launch Alliance (ULA) payload fairing with NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover secured inside arrives at the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 7, 2020.

View image: 'Mars 2020 Payload Fairing'

Mars 2020 Payload Fairing Arrives at KSC's Vertical Integration Facility



The payload fairing, or nose cone, containing NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is maneuvered into place atop the Atlas V rocket that will hurl it toward Mars.

View image: 'Maneuvering Perseverance'

Maneuvering Perseverance

The major elements of the Atlas V-541 rocket
that will be used for the Mars 2020 mission are:


drawing of Stage 1 Atlas V Rocket
Stage 1:
Atlas V Rocket
drawing of Solid Rocket Motors
Solid Rocket Motors
drawing of Stage 2: Centaur Upper Stage Booster
Stage 2:
Centaur
drawing of Payload Fairing
Payload Fairing