[meteorite-list] NASA'S Mars Science Laboratory Launch Rescheduled for Nov. 26

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:01:59 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201111210201.pAL21xKn017642_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Nov. 19, 2011

Allard Beutel
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
allard.beutel at nasa.gov

RELEASE: 38-11

NASA'S MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR NOV. 26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V
carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is being delayed one
day to allow time for the team to remove and replace a flight
termination system battery.

The launch is rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from Space Launch
Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The one hour and
43 minute launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. EST.

The rollout of MSL on the Atlas V to the launch pad at Space Launch
Complex-41 now will be on Friday, Nov. 25.

The Monday, Nov. 21 schedule of prelaunch tours and media briefing at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center will remain unchanged. The rest of the
week's briefings and events are being reevaluated, and a new
prelaunch schedule will be issued on Monday.

The MSL Curiosity rover has 10 science instruments to search for
evidence Mars had environments favorable for microbial life,
including the chemical ingredients for life. The unique rover will
use a laser to look inside rocks and release their gasses so its
spectrometer can analyze and send the data back to Earth.

For the latest information on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/msl

-end-
Received on Sun 20 Nov 2011 09:01:59 PM PST