CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The Spirit of NASA is roaring through the heavens this morning on a 311 million mile trek to Mars. Spirit is one of two rovers NASA is sending to the red planet. Her twin, Opportunity, launches later this month. Right now, here's CNN's Bill Tucker with a look at the mission and the quest to know if there's life on Mars or was, that is.</s>BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: NASA's newest Mars probe Spirit is on its way. (voice-over): The launch going off without a hitch on Tuesday. That launch will be followed by the launch of the second Mars probe, Opportunity, in about two weeks. The mission? To search for signs of life on Mars. Why is NASA sending two space probes? Well, in order to improve the odds that one of them might actually make it. Since 1960, there have been 30 attempts and only 12 success stories. Once the rovers get there, if, in fact, they do get there, the two 375 pound rovers that come in about the size of golf carts should begin sending back panoramic landscape pictures of the planet. They also should be sending back geologic studies along with soil and rock analysis, that data going back to the scientists at NASA. Now, there is some competition, because Europe did launch a Mars probe of its own last week and it will get there first. The scientific community, of course, is playing down any talk about a race or who will get there first. But scientists, after all, are only people, too. Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.</s>COSTELLO: That they are.
Spirit of NASA Roaring Through Heavens