spacetoday.net: Cork problem further delays Opportunity launch

Posted: Tue, Jul 1, 2003, 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
Mars Exploration Rover (NASA/JPL)

NASA has delayed the launch of the Mars rover Opportunity until Saturday, an additional three-day delay caused by problems with cork insulation on the rover's launch vehicle. NASA now plans to launch Opportunity on July 5 at 10:51:25 or 11:34:05 pm EDT (0251:25 or 0334:05 GMT Sunday), three days later than previously planned. The additional time is needed to resolve an issue with cork insulation on the first stage of the Delta 2 booster: engineers are uncertain why the insulation is failing to adhere properly to the vehicle. The insulation, running in a band 60 centimeters wide and over half a centimeter thick, is used to protect the first stage from the heat generated by the solid-propellant strap-on boosters attached to the first stage. The insulation was replaced last week but technicians found that some of the insulation has peeled off again after weather scrubbed a Saturday night launch attempt. NASA had hoped to launch the rover on Wednesday, but elected to delay until Saturday to give engineers additional time to replace some of the insulation and make sure it remains in place.