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ZS6FB > SAT 06.07.03 10:45l 41 Lines 1701 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-187.01
Read: GUEST
Subj: "OPPORTUNITY" MARS EXPLORATION ROVER TARGETED FOR LAUNCH JUL
Path: DB0ZKA<DB0FSG<DB0GAP<DB0BOX<DB0MRW<OK0PKL<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<VK3TE<
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Sent: 030706/0614Z @:ZS6FB.MPU.ZAF.AF #:4938 PACTOR-2: XFBB7.04 $:ANS-187.01
From: ZS6FB@ZS6FB.MPU.ZAF.AF
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 187.01 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. July 6, 2003
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-187.01
The second of two Mars Exploration Rovers, Opportunity, is
rescheduled for launch on Sunday, July 6 at 10:43:16 p.m. EDT.
Liftoff will occur aboard the Boeing Delta II Heavy launch vehicle
from Pad B at Space Launch Complex 17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station. A second launch opportunity exists at 11:26:02 p.m. EDT,
if necessary. Should launch be delayed by 24 hours, two launch
times are also available on Monday at 10:35:23 p.m. and 11:18:15
p.m. EDT. The window of the planetary launch period extends through
July 15.
Opportunity will reach Mars on Jan. 25, 2004. Together the two MER
rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, seek to determine the history of
climate and water at two sites on Mars where conditions may once
have been favorable to life. The rovers are identical. Each rover
carries five scientific instruments including a panoramic camera
and microscope, plus a rock abrasion tool that will grind away the outer
surfaces of rocks to expose their interiors for examination. The
rovers each weigh approximately 400 pounds. They will navigate them
selves around obstacles as they drive across the Martian surface,
traveling up to about 130 feet each Martian day. Each rover's
prime mission is planned to last three months on Mars.
"NASA Direct!" webcast coverage of the launch will begin at 8:30
p.m. EDT on Sunday, July 6.
For more information on the MER-B/Opportunity web activities,
go to <http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/merb/index.htm>
[ANS thanks NASA News, for the above information.]
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