Mission: MER-A
Launch Date: June 10, 2003
Launch Time: 1:58:46 p.m.
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Pad: 17-A

+ 6 June 2003 - Science Briefing
+ 6 June 2003 - Science Briefing question and answer session
+ 6 June 2003 - Mission Briefing
+ 6 June 2003 - Mission Briefing question and answer session
+ 7 June 2003 - Pre-Launch Press Conference
+ 8 June 2003 - Rover Naming Ceremony - 8 June 2003

The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. The program seeks to take advantage of each launch opportunity to go to Mars, which comes around every 26 months as the planets move around the Sun. Scheduled for two separate launches, the two rovers will be delivered in landing craft to separate sites on Mars in January 2004.

Primary among the mission's scientific goals is to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity on Mars. The spacecraft will be targeted to sites that appear to have been affected by liquid water in the past.

After the airbag-protected landing craft settle onto the surface and open, the rovers will roll out to take panoramic images. These will give scientists the information they need to select promising geological targets that will tell part of the story of water in Mars' past. Then, the rovers will drive to those locations to perform on-site scientific investigations over the course of their 90-day mission.

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4 Jun 2003
NASA prepares two robot rovers for Mars exploration
+ Read more

23 May 2003
Mars Exploration Rover spacecraft undergo biological testing and cleaning prior to June launches
+ Read more

11 Apr 2003
NASA Rovers slated to examine two intriguing sites on Mars
+ Read more

24 Feb 2003
First Mars Exploration Rover arrives at KSC to begin preparation for launch
+ Read more

Mars Exploration Rover Fact Sheet
The mission fact sheet provides a concise, updated overview of the upcoming Mars mission.
+ View the fact sheet

More MER Mission News
+ Go to the Mars Exploration Rover Newsroom

MER Mission Press Kit (PDF)
Learn the background and details of this exciting mission!
+ View site
+ Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

ELV Status Reports
Read current and archived status reports from KSC.
+ View site

Mars Exploration Program
Find out how the MER mission fits into NASA's Mars Exploration Program.
+ View site

The Delta Launch Vehicle
Look up news and information about Boeing's Delta launch vehicles.
+ View site