[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update - March 26, 2003

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:23:54 2004
Message-ID: <200303300713.XAA11158_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

SPACECRAFT AND EXPENDABLE VEHICLES STATUS REPORT
March 26, 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

On March 21, MER-1 was driven on a test pad that included navigating the
rover over obstacles simulating Martian terrain. The camera also underwent
functional testing. A functional test and mission simulation is scheduled
for this weekend that includes deployment of the lander petals, the solar
arrays, camera mast and camera. A second functional test and mission
simulation for MER-2 was successfully completed last weekend and the rover
will be stowed on the lander base petal late this week.

Processing of the cruise stage, lander and heat shield elements for both
missions continues. 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 22. The Boeing and NASA review to assess the
engineering readiness of the Delta II for MER-A was completed on Mar. 19 at
the Boeing plant in Huntington Beach, Calif.

The Delta for the second launch on June 25 will begin its erection at Pad
17-B on May 1. Boeing's Delta II Heavy Design Certification Review for
MER-B was completed on Mar. 20.
Received on Sun 30 Mar 2003 02:13:48 AM PST