spacetoday.net: Phoenix launch delayed a day

Posted: Tue, Jul 31, 2007, 9:13 PM ET (0113 GMT)
Phoenix Mars lander illustration (Univ. of Arizona)

NASA announced Tuesday that the launch of the Phoenix mission to Mars would be delayed a day because of poor weather. Phoenix was scheduled to launch on the morning on Friday, August 3 on a Delta 2, but severe thunderstorms in the vicinity of the launch site Tuesday prevented fueling of the rocket's second stage, pushing back launch preparations accordingly. The launch has been rescheduled for Saturday at either 5:26 or 6:03 am EDT (0926 and 1003 GMT). Another launch opportunity exists Sunday before the mission would have to stand down for Tuesday's shuttle launch, assuming that remains on schedule. Phoenix, the first of NASA's Mars Scout class of low-cost Mars missions, will land in the plains near the north polar ice cap of the planet next year.