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NASA Eyes Weather on Mars Rover Launch

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 06:00 CDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA officials hoped foul weather wouldn't continue to postpone a golf-cart-sized rover's trip to Mars to search for evidence of water.

For a second time, the threat of thunderstorms Monday forced NASA to hold off firing the rocket that would carry the first of two such rovers.

The launch was postponed until 1:58 p.m. EDT Tuesday, when scattered thunderstorms were forecast.

Storms and high wind Sunday led NASA to reschedule the flight for Monday afternoon, but the threat of thunderstorms was too great.

A second rover is scheduled for launch later this month, and both vehicles are expected to arrive at Mars in January.

The rovers act as robotic geologists, moving on six wheels. Each is equipped with a pair of panoramic cameras, a camera for close-ups and a drill to sample rocks.

Previous missions have shown Mars had water in the past, but scientists want to find out how long the water was there and in what amounts. Scientists believe the water may show that Mars once was able to support life.

Only 12 out of 30 previous attempts have reached Mars, and only three out of nine attempts have succeeded in landing on the planet. The current rovers cost $800 million.

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On the Net:

Rover Mission

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