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9 June 2003

NEWS ADVISORY

Cornell experts continue on standby as Mars launch is put on hold

Contact:  David Brand
Office:  607-255-3651
E-mail:  deb27{at}cornell.edu

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.

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EDITORS: You are welcome to call Sullivan or Learner at (607) 
255-9888 and Learner at (607) 255-6307. If the launch proceeds as 
planned, the two experts will be available at (607) 255-5308 and 
Learner at (607) 255-2692.

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