Posted: Wed, Jun 4, 2003, 10:24 PM ET (0224 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.

Related Links:

•  NASA press release
•  Spaceflight Now launch status center
•  Boeing press release about launch