Wed, Jun 11, 2003
Search For Water on Red Planet Bogged Down by Wet Weather on
Earth
Mars Exploration Rover-A (MER-A), the first of two NASA science
missions being launched this month, has begun its journey to Mars
after successfully being deployed to space Tuesday by a Boeing
Delta II rocket.
The Delta II lifted off from Space Launch Complex
17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (FL) at an instantaneous
window of 1:58:47 p.m. EDT. Approximately 37 minutes later, the
spacecraft carrying MER-A separated from the launch vehicle.
MER-A is scheduled to land on Mars on January 4, 2004.
"Launching at the instantaneous window is certainly an important
factor in contributing to the success of NASA’s Mars
Exploration Rover missions. I’m proud of the efforts by the
government and industry team that made today’s launch
successful, and that the Delta II continues to be called upon by
NASA to support these important science missions," said Jay
Witzling, vice president and deputy program manager, Boeing Delta
programs.
Following a parachute and air bag landing, MER-A will begin
roaming and will activate a panoramic camera to image the surface
and sky of Mars. Using precision instruments, the Rover will
examine samples of the Martian terrain to help scientists determine
if past water activity could have supported life on Mars.
Communication with scientists on Earth will be enhanced by use of
the Mars Odyssey spacecraft as a relay station, which is orbiting
Mars.
MER-B, the second of the two missions, is scheduled to launch on
June 25 from Cape Canaveral aboard the new Delta II Heavy launch
vehicle. It is scheduled to land on Mars on Jan. 25, 2004 and will
perform similar tasks.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Kennedy Space Center
manage the MER missions that are part of NASA’s Mars
Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of
Mars.
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