ST. LOUIS, June 9, 2003 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and NASA officials have delayed
today’s launch attempt of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover-A aboard a Boeing
Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., due to the
continued presence of thunderstorms, clouds and winds during the launch
window.
The U.S. Air Force weather officer expects the weather to improve by
tomorrow with a 70 percent chance of favorable conditions for another launch
attempt.
Tomorrow’s launch is scheduled at an instantaneous window of 1:58:47 p.m.
EDT. A second window exists, if necessary, at 2:36:49 p.m. EDT.
A Delta II rocket is scheduled to launch "Spirit," the name selected and
announced yesterday by NASA for the MER-A rover. The name selected for MER-B
is "Opportunity."
NASA held a "Name the Rovers" contest prior to the launch, which was
sponsored by Lego Co., and the Planetary Society. The names "Spirit" and
"Opportunity" were submitted by a 9-year-old girl named Sofi Collis, who was
born in Siberia and adopted by a family in Arizona. In her essay, which was
selected from nearly 10,000 entries, she recalled her time in an orphanage
when she would look up at the sky, and the stars gave her spirit. She also
added that she is grateful for the opportunity to grow up in America.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the
world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis,
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It provides
systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial
customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the
world’s largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based
communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense;
NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
