John F. Kennedy Space Center - Expendable Launch Vehicles

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MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS - Robot geologists are next in line to visit the Red Planet


	Explorer 1, the first U.S. Earth-orbiting satellite, was launched January 31, 1958 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch vehicle was an Army Jupiter-C rocket. Explorer 1 orbited the Earth every 115 minutes.

MER-B Launch Pad Activities

24 Feb 2003
The first stage the Delta II Heavy was erected on Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

20-22 May 2003
The nine solid boosters were erected in sets of three per day.

29 May 2003
The second stage was hoisted atop the first stage.

17 Jun 2003
The MER-B rover Opportunity was lifted up Pad 17-B and mated to the launch vehicle.

23 June 2003
The fairing was placed over the payload.

Learn the history behind Launch Complex 17!

SRBs installed at pad
22 May 2003
Delta II Heavy SRBs
Solid Rocket Boosters are installed on first stage
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second stage hoisted
29 May 2003
Second stage installed
The second stage is hoisted atop the first stage.
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The payload is lifted and mated at the launch pad.
17 Jun 2003
Payload lift and mate
The MER-B spacecraft arrives
at Launch Pad 17-B.
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The payload fairing is installed around the payload.
29 May 2003
Payload fairing installed
The payload fairing is put in place around the payload.
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Curator: Lynda Warnock
NASA Official: Dennis Armstrong
Technical Content Coordinator: Tiffany Nail
Web Development: JBOSC Web Development Team
Last Updated: June 27, 2003