Launch of 'Opportunity' Aboard Delta II Postponed To July 7

For Release: July 5, 2003

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321-867-2468

KSC Release No. 56-03

LAUNCH OF "OPPORTUNITY" ABOARD DELTA II POSTPONED TO JULY 7

The launch of the MER-B Mars Exploration Rover "Opportunity" aboard a Boeing
Delta II rocket has been postponed an additional 24 hours. The delay is due
to the failure of a battery cell associated with a component of the launch
vehicle's flight termination system. The battery must be removed and
replaced.

Launch is now targeted for no earlier than Monday, July 7. The two launch
times available are 10:35:23 and 11:18:15 p.m. EDT. The forecast calls for
a 30% chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria on Monday evening.

At Pad 17-B, a tanking test of the Delta rocket was conducted this morning.
The first stage was loaded with cryogenic liquid oxygen to evaluate the
bonding of the lower band of cork thermal insulation. This afternoon, NASA
and Boeing managers met to discuss the outcome of the tanking test and other
associated testing and engineering evaluations that have been conducted over
the last several days.

After the tanking, inspections revealed some selective debonding of the cork
from the surface of the vehicle within a limited area. These locations are
being repaired using a different adhesive with a stronger bonding
characteristic as demonstrated by tests conducted at KSC late this week.
This work was completed tonight and the problem has been resolved to the
satisfaction of engineers.

-- end --

In article ,
Hop David wrote:
Ya know, for a craft named "Opportunity" it seems to be quickly
running out of those before the launch window closes.

I guess the spate of Mars craft is due to opportunity for Earth to Mars
Hohmann orbit?

Correct. The story is a bit more complicated than an orthodox Hohmann
orbit, because of Mars's elliptical orbit, the fact that it's not quite in
the same plane as Earth's orbit, etc., but that's still the right general
idea. Mars and Earth are in the right places, so that an economy transfer
from Earth to Mars's orbit will get there when Mars is there, about every
26 months.

How long does a Mars launch window last?

Depends greatly on propulsion capabilities and how much margin the
spacecraft designers left. Typically there will be only one or two days
when conditions are precisely optimal, but the usual sorts of margins
typically give a window 2-4 weeks long. (Often the spacecraft guys are
happy to see launch slip a little, because the best launch conditions --
requiring the smallest amount of the spacecraft's own fuel -- are usually
in the middle of the window.)

Precisely *when* the window appears depends on whether you care about
minimizing arrival velocity, which you do for an orbiter but not for a
lander (like the MERs) that goes straight in from interplanetary cruise.
Which is why the launch window for Mars Express opened in late May and
closed in late June, while the MER window came a bit later.
--
MOST launched 1015 EDT 30 June, separated 1046, | Henry Spencer
first ground-station pass 1651, all nominal! |

On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 10:00:54 -0700, Hop David
wrote:



DrPostman wrote:

Ya know, for a craft named "Opportunity" it seems to be quickly
running out of those before the launch window closes.

I guess the spate of Mars craft is due to opportunity for Earth to Mars
Hohmann orbit? How long does a Mars launch window last?


The 15th, but Opportunity got it's opportunity and is on it's way,
Hurraaaaa!





--
Dr.Postman USPS, MBMC, BsD; "Disgruntled, But Unarmed"
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