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Melissa Motichek/Don Savage
Headquarters, Washington             April 18, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1272/1727)

RELEASE: 03-145

NASA DELAYS SIRTF LAUNCH

     NASA managers have decided to postpone the launch of 
SIRTF (Space Infrared Telescope Facility) aboard a Boeing 
Delta II rocket until no earlier than mid-August 2003.

The delay will allow engineers enough time to change out one 
of the nine solid rocket motors attached to the Delta II 
rocket, which had multiple delaminations within the layers of 
material that comprise the engine-nozzle exit-cone liner.

"There simply is not enough time to remove and replace the 
rocket motor to support a SIRTF launch in advance of the Mars 
Exploration Rover-B launch window," said Karen Poniatowski, 
Assistant Associate Administrator for Launch Services at NASA 
Headquarters, Washington.
 
The upcoming launch dates of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER 
A and B), also on Delta II rockets, are June 6 and June 25, 
respectively. The MER-A mission, originally scheduled for May 
30, was recently rescheduled to June 6 due to a potential 
problem with cabling on the spacecraft.

The launch of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission, or 
GALEX, is on schedule for launch on a Pegasus rocket on April 
28.

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