spacetoday.net: Insulation problem delays rover launch to Wednesday

Posted: Mon, Jun 30, 2003, 6:49 AM ET (1049 GMT)
Mars Exploration Rover (NASA/JPL)

A recurrence of a problem with insulation on a Delta 2 rocket has delayed the launch of NASA's Mars rover Opportunity until Wednesday. The launch, which had been scheduled for Sunday night, has now been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 2 at 11:17:37 pm EDT (0317:37 GMT Thursday), with a second launch window at 11:59:54 pm EDT (0359:54 GMT). NASA made the decision to delay the launch Sunday afternoon after engineers noticed that sections of cork insulation on the first stage of the Delta 2 booster had peeled away and needed to be replaced. This is the same cork insulation that was replaced last week, delaying the launch a few days. Two attempts to launch the rover Saturday night was scrubbed because of first low-altitude winds and then because of an upper-level wind shear. Launch windows for Opportunity continue through July 15.