Mars Exploration Rover (MER-B/Opportunity) Launch Status Report 18 Jun 2003
MISSION: Mars Exploration Rover (MER-B/Opportunity)
- LAUNCH VEHICLE: Delta II Heavy
- LAUNCH PAD: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
- LAUNCH DATE: June 25, 2003 NET
- LAUNCH TIME: 12:27:31 a.m. / 1:08:45 a.m. EDT
The MER-1 rover, Opportunity, mated to the upper stage booster and
contained within its payload transporter, rolled out of the Payload
Hazardous Servicing Facility on Tuesday morning, June 17 at 1:58 a.m. It
arrived at Pad 17-B at 4:30 a.m. and was hoisted atop the Boeing MER-B Delta
II Heavy launch vehicle at 9:15 a.m.
The spacecraft electrical umbilical connections were established
last night. A spacecraft state of health check is under way today. The
integrated vehicle/spacecraft Flight Program Verification test will follow
on Thursday. This will demonstrate the ability of the spacecraft and the
launch vehicle to work together during the terminal countdown and flight.
The Simulated Flight Test of the Delta II vehicle has been successfully
completed.
Installation of the fairing around the spacecraft is scheduled to
occur on Saturday, June 21. Fueling of the Delta second stage with its
complement of storable hypergolic propellants is planned for Monday, June
23.
The Flight Readiness Review (FRR) will be held on Saturday, June
21 in the Mission Briefing Room at KSC. Pending successful completion of
this review, launch is scheduled for June 26. There are no significant
issues or concerns at this time.
