An Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Florida on Friday and dispatched a sophisticated Nasa probe on a journey to Mars to look for water on Earth?s mysterious neighbour planet. After two days of delays due to minor technical concerns, the 188-foot Atlas 5 booster, built by Lockheed Martin, blasted off its seaside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station smoothly and on time at 11h43 GMT. Nestled in a protective cargo hold perched on the rocket?s nose was the 2,180 kg Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, also built by Lockheed Martin.

The rocket successfully placed the orbiter on a path to Mars. The spacecraft?s primary goal is to continue the search for evidence showing how long Mars had water, which scientists believe is key to learning if life ever existed on Mars.

When the satellite arrives at Mars it will join two other US orbiters, Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey, Europe?s Mars Express spacecraft and the twin robot rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.