[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 13, 2003

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:23:48 2004
Message-ID: <200303132215.OAA29288_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
March 13, 2003

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

[snip]

MISSION: Mars Exploration Rovers (MER-1/MER-2)
LAUNCH VEHICLES: Delta II/Delta II Heavy
LAUNCH PADS: 17-A/17-B
LAUNCH DATES: May 30/June 25
LAUNCH TIMES: 2:28 p.m. / 12:34 a.m. EDT

At Kennedy Space Center, the second of the two Mars Exploration Rovers,
MER-1, arrived on Tuesday, March 11 and has begun its prelaunch testing in
the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF). A functional test of the
MER-2 rover systems was conducted on Mar. 6 and Mar. 9 and included
deployment of the lander petals, the rover's solar arrays, camera mast and
camera. The camera also took test images. A similar test for MER-1 is
scheduled to occur late next week.

Once functional testing and mission simulation of the flight elements is
complete, they will be integrated together. Each spacecraft will be mated
to a solid propellant upper stage booster that will propel the spacecraft
out of Earth orbit. After mating to the upper stage, the stack will undergo
spin balance testing. Approximately ten days before launch the payload will
be transported to the launch pad for mating with their respective Boeing
Delta II rockets.

The Boeing Delta II vehicle for the first launch of the two launches
scheduled on May 30 is planned for erection on Pad 17-A at Space Launch
Complex 17 beginning April 18. The Delta for the second launch on June 25
will begin erection activities on May 1 on Pad 17-B.

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Received on Thu 13 Mar 2003 05:15:37 PM PST