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
|
|
NASA to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 1
FCC Adopts New Satellite Spectrum Sharing Rules
Broadband Breakfast — 6:04 am ET (1004 GMT) New FCC Rules Could Mean 'Sevenfold' Capacity Increase for Starlink
PC Magazine — 6:03 am ET (1003 GMT) Space Command moves into first Redstone building
Axios — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Sierra Space Elects Retired Lieutenant General John E. Shaw to Board of Directors
PR Newswire — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Spacecom Takes Operational Control of Facility in Alabama
US Dept. of Defense — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) |
