Opportunity Launch Delayed 07.01.03 Launch of the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity aboard a Boeing Delta II heavy launch vehicle has been rescheduled for no earlier than Saturday, July 5 — with two launch opportunities available at 10:59 p.m. and 11:42 p.m. EDT. The delay is due to problems with the cork insulation on the Delta II launch vehicle’s first stage.
June 26th, 2003
Mars Odyssey Orbiter Watches a Frosty Mars
NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft is revealing new details about the intriguing and dynamic character of the frozen layers now known to dominate the high northern latitudes of Mars. The implications have a bearing on science strategies for future missions in the search of habitats. “Once the carbon-dioxide layer disappears, we see even more water ice in northern latitudes than Odyssey found last year in southern latitudes,” said Odyssey’s Dr. Igor Mitrofanov of the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI), Moscow, lead author of a paper in the June 27 issue of the journal Science. “In some places, the water ice content is more than 90 percent by volume,” he said. Mitrofanov and co-authors used the changing nature of the relief of these regions, measured more than 2 years ago by the Global Surveyor’s laser altimeter science team, to explore the implications of the changes.
June 24th, 2003
Live Coverage of MER-B Launch Will Include Two Live Webcasts
Wondering what the difference is between the two identical Mars Exploration Rovers? Curious about a Launch Director’s job as the countdown heats up, or just how the MER-B rover, Opportunity, will handle the tasks of a robotic geologist? For answers to these questions and more, join NASA Direct! for two live webcasts highlighting launch of the Opportunity rover. Launch is currently scheduled for June 28 at 11:56:16 p.m. EDT.
June 24th, 2003
NASA Orbiter Eyes Phobos Over Mars Horizon
Images from the Mars Orbiter Camera aboard NASA
June 2nd, 2003
U.S. Partners Share in Excitement of Europe’s Mars Mission
Americans are participating in several ways in the European Space Agency’s first mission to Mars, launched today from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. “The exploration of Mars is an international adventure,” said Dr. Cathy Weitz at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. “Our rover missions have key participants in Europe, and there are U.S. scientists on the teams for every instrument on Mars Express.” Weitz serves dual coordinating roles as project scientist for NASA’s participation in Mars Express and as program scientist for the Mars Exploration Rovers.
May 22nd, 2003
Snapshot of Mother Earth from Mars
Have you ever wondered what you would see if you stood on Mars looking back at the Earth through a small telescope? Now you can see Earth through the eyes of our space-faring wanderer — the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft — which currently orbits the Red Planet. In fact, the spacecraft has flown around Mars for years, since September 1997.
May 13th, 2003
A new way to explore the surface of Mars
Students from North Carolina State University (NCSU) are helping NASA expand the exploration of the surface of Mars. The team of students and researchers has designed a wind-powered rover that can be blown, like tumbleweed, across the surface of the Red Planet collecting atmospheric and geological samples at multiple locations.
May 2nd, 2003
International Press Must Apply Early To Assure Accreditation To Cover MER And SIRTF Launches
International news media planning to cover the launch of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER A and MER B) on June 5 and June 25 and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) anticipated to occur in late August are required to request accreditation 30 days in advance.
May 1st, 2003
Live Webcast Will Preview Mars Rover Adventure
A live interactive broadcast and webcast on May 1 will offer an advance look at NASA’s plans to land two robotic geologists on Mars in January 2004 — the Mars Exploration Rover mission. The hour-long program beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Pacific Time) will invite students to conduct science and engineering experiments based on those of the actual mission. Viewers throughout North America will be able to interact via e-mail as 250 students do the experiments on-camera.
April 15th, 2003
Athena Student Interns Program (Application Due Date: April 15th, 2003)
NASA is sending two rovers to Mars this spring and you and your students can be part of the exciting mission from launch through landed operations! The Athena Student Interns Program (ASIP) is designed to give a creative, dedicated group of high school students from across the nation the chance to join the scientists of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission in exploring the Red Planet.