NASA clears launch of first Mars rover
Posted: Wed, Jun 4, 2003, 11:24 PM ET (0324 GMT)
NASA has given its approval for plans to launch the first of two Mars Exploration Rovers this Sunday, although weather could delay the launch. NASA approved plans for a June 8 launch after a flight readiness review held Wednesday morning. The MER-A rover is scheduled for launch at 2:05:55 pm EDT (1805:55 GMT) on a Delta 2 7925 from Cape Canaveral. Weather may prove to be an issue, though, with current forecasts calling for a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather for launch; similar odds of bad weather are also forecast for Monday and Tuesday. NASA has through June 19 to launch MER-A. A twin rover, MER-B, is still scheduled for launch on June 25 on the maiden flight of the Delta 2 Heavy, a version of the Delta 2 that uses the larger strap-on boosters originally developed for the Delta 3. The two rovers are scheduled to land on Mars on January 4 and 25, 2004, and spend at least 90 days exploring the surface.
NASA has given its approval for plans to launch the first of two Mars Exploration Rovers this Sunday, although weather could delay the launch. NASA approved plans for a June 8 launch after a flight readiness review held Wednesday morning. The MER-A rover is scheduled for launch at 2:05:55 pm EDT (1805:55 GMT) on a Delta 2 7925 from Cape Canaveral. Weather may prove to be an issue, though, with current forecasts calling for a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather for launch; similar odds of bad weather are also forecast for Monday and Tuesday. NASA has through June 19 to launch MER-A. A twin rover, MER-B, is still scheduled for launch on June 25 on the maiden flight of the Delta 2 Heavy, a version of the Delta 2 that uses the larger strap-on boosters originally developed for the Delta 3. The two rovers are scheduled to land on Mars on January 4 and 25, 2004, and spend at least 90 days exploring the surface.
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