spacetoday.net: First Mars rover launch delayed

Posted: Wed, May 28, 2003, 7:30 AM ET (1130 GMT)
Mars Exploration Rover (NASA/JPL)

NASA announced Tuesday that the launch of the first of twin Mars Exploration Rovers has been delayed three days to give technicians additional time to prepare the spacecraft. The rover, known as MER-A, is now scheduled for launch on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral at 2:06 pm EDT (1806 GMT) June 8. The launch had previously been scheduled for June 5, but NASA officials said the launch was pushed back not because of specific technical problems but to give personnel preparing MER-A for launch additional time for pre-launch reviews. The launch window for MER-A runs through June 19. MER-B, the second rover, is still scheduled for launch on a Delta 2 Heavy on June 25.