Posted: Tue, Jun 10, 2003, 5:59 PM ET (2159 GMT)
After two days of weather-related delays, a Delta 2 successfully launched the first of NASA's twin Mars Exploration Rovers Tuesday afternoon. The Boeing Delta 2 7925 lifted off from pad 17A at Cape Canaveral, Florida at 1:58:47 pm EDT (1758:47 GMT), on the first of two one-second launch windows available Tuesday. The Mars rover Spirit (formerly known as MER-A) separated from the booster's third stage about 37 minutes later. Spirit is on course to land on Mars on January 4, 2004 at Gusev Crater. The other rover, named Opportunity, is scheduled for launch on June 25 on a Boeing Delta 2 Heavy; it will land at Meridiani Planum on January 25, 2004.

Related Links:

•  SPACE.com article
•  AP article
•  Washington Post article
•  NASA/JPL press release
•  Boeing press release