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TIFFANY NAIL: So what happens just after liftoff? Just how does the MRO spacecraft get from Earth to Mars? Dr. Richard Zurek, MRO project scientist, takes a closer look with this fascinating animation. ZUREK: This August is an opportunity to launch a spacecraft to Mars. These opportunities come every 26 months, and in August we'll be launching the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the latest in a series of spacecraft that we've sent to Mars as part of an exploration of the planet, with a follow-the-water theme. The next step in our journey to Mars will start from Florida. Here you see the Atlas V rocket lifting off with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter at the top, inside of the fairing that covers it and protects it during the launch. As it goes up from the Cape Canaveral launch site, the first stage is taking us through the atmosphere, up into the upper reaches. There you see the rocket up at the top, it's covered in the shroud. The first stage separates and falls away, and the second stage will then take over. But first we jettison the fairing, and you can see the high-gain antenna which sits at the top of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. Eventually, we separate from the boo