[meteorite-list] NASA's Mars Orbiter Launch Delayed 24 Hours

[Ron Baalke]

Dolores Beasley
Headquarters, Washington               August 11, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1753)

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

MEDIA ADVISORY: M05-136

NASA'S MARS ORBITER LAUNCH DELAYED 24 HOURS

he launch of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has 
been postponed. The new launch window is 7:43 to 9:43 a.m. 
EDT, Friday, August 12.

The delay was called after engineers saw an anomalous 
reading in the hydrogen propellant loading system on the 
Atlas V. There was insufficient time in the launch window 
to fully investigate the reading. The Atlas V vehicle is 
being de-tanked. The rocket will remain on the launch pad, 
and the MRO spacecraft is secured.

Tomorrow's weather forecast calls for a chance for isolated 
coastal showers. There is a 20 percent probability of not 
meeting the launch weather criteria.

On launch day, August 12, the KSC News Center will open at 
4:30 a.m. EDT. Foreign national news media should meet at 
Gate 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5 a.m. to be 
escorted to the KSC Press Site. NASA TV live coverage of 
the launch begins at 5:15 a.m. EDT.

For information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on the 
Web, visit

http://www.nasa.gov/mro

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, 
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

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