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Mars Rover Launch Delayed a Fourth Time

Posted on: Monday, 30 June 2003, 06:00 CDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA pushed back Wednesday's launch of the latest Mars rover until at least Saturday so workers can figure out why cork insulation is not sticking properly to the skin of the rocket.

The liftoff was set for 10:51 p.m. EDT.

The announcement Monday marked was the fourth delay in a week for the launch of the rover Opportunity.

The tests will examine whether the cork insulation is being applied properly and whether the problem poses any dangers.

"We want to show that the process works and if it didn't work, would it make any difference?" said George Diller, a NASA spokesman.

Opportunity and its sister rover, Spirit, which was launched earlier this month, will ramble across the rocky surface of Mars, looking for evidence of whether the Red Planet ever had enough water to sustain life.

The rovers are expected to arrive on Mars in January.

The launch of Opportunity had already been postponed last week because the adhesive was not bonding with the cork. The cork was replaced, but the problem reappeared Sunday.

A band of cork, about 2 feet wide and a quarter-inch thick, is designed to insulate the rocket from excessive heat from the solid fuel boosters. Workers planned to replace 10 percent of the band in addition to running the tests.

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Mars Exploration Rover Mission

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