Rover launch delayed to Sunday
Posted: Thu, Jul 3, 2003, 2:38 PM ET (1838 GMT)
NASA announced Thursday it had delayed the launch of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity an additional day, to Sunday, to perform additional tests on the rover's launch vehicle. Launch of Opportunity on a Delta 2 heavy is now scheduled for Sunday at 10:43:16 or 11:26:02 pm EDT (0243:16 or 0326:02 GMT Monday). The delay will give technicians time to run an additional test Saturday, loading liquid oxygen into the booster's first stage to see if cork insulation will remain bonded to the vehicle after being exposed to the cold propellant. Problems with that band of insulation on the vehicle have delayed the launch of the rover for over a week now as engineers try to figure out a way to make sure the insulation adheres to the stage. Launch windows for Opportunity, the second of two Mars rovers, exist through July 15.
NASA announced Thursday it had delayed the launch of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity an additional day, to Sunday, to perform additional tests on the rover's launch vehicle. Launch of Opportunity on a Delta 2 heavy is now scheduled for Sunday at 10:43:16 or 11:26:02 pm EDT (0243:16 or 0326:02 GMT Monday). The delay will give technicians time to run an additional test Saturday, loading liquid oxygen into the booster's first stage to see if cork insulation will remain bonded to the vehicle after being exposed to the cold propellant. Problems with that band of insulation on the vehicle have delayed the launch of the rover for over a week now as engineers try to figure out a way to make sure the insulation adheres to the stage. Launch windows for Opportunity, the second of two Mars rovers, exist through July 15.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force adds Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to NSSL contract
Posted: Sun, Mar 30 9:19 AM ET (1319 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, April 3
How a kid from Pemberton helped lead a landmark commercial Moon landing
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 6:00 am ET (1000 GMT) Eutelsat Begins OneWeb Services for the Aviation Market
ViaSatellite — 5:59 am ET (0959 GMT) Sierra Space demonstrates technology for Space Force satellite program
BizWest — 5:58 am ET (0958 GMT) Debrief: Vulcan On Deck
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) ULA Targets April 9 For First Batch Of Amazon Kuiper Satellites
Aviation Week — 5:56 am ET (0956 GMT) |
