ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University astronomers Robert J. Sullivan Jr.
and Zoe Learner are available for background interviews as the first
of two scheduled Mars launches continues to be delayed due to bad
weather.
The launch of the Delta II rocket carrying the first of two Mars
rover vehicles, now bearing the name Spirit, was delayed Sunday until
today, when it was scrubbed again. Officials at Cape Canaveral, Fla.,
said the launch is now scheduled for tomorrow, June 10, at 1:58:47 or
2:36:49 p.m. Eastern time.
On-air or on-camera interviews can be arranged in advance by calling
David Brand at the Cornell News Service at (607) 255-3651 or Pamela
Smith at the Cornell Department of Astronomy at (607) 255-2692.
The two launches — the second is scheduled for June 25 — are part
of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission, sending two roving
vehicles to the planet’s surface. The rovers, Spirit and Opportunity,
which are due to bounce down next January, will be carrying
scientific packages, called Athena, developed by a Cornell-led team.
Steven Squyres, Cornell professor of astronomy, who is leading the
Athena team for NASA, is in Florida for the launch and is not
available for interviews.
Sullivan is a senior research associate at Cornell and an Athena
science team member whose job will be to examine the physical
properties of soils and the distribution of different soil units
around the Mars landing sites, as well as other aspects of surface
geology. He also will work with data from the Athena panoramic
cameras and microscopic imagers.
Learner is a graduate student and an Athena science team collaborator
whose job will be to record initial findings from the Martian surface
and rover activity requests during Athena science team meetings.
NASA’s press packet for the mission is available online at
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press_kits.cfm.
