Boeing Delta II Launches “Opportunity” Sending Second NASA Rover to Mars

Photo by Carleton Bailie © The Boeing Company

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. July 7, 2003 — “Opportunity,” the second of two NASA rovers that will land on Mars, was launched today by a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle from Space Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Liftoff occurred at 11:18:15 p.m. EDT. Approximately 80 minutes into the flight, “Opportunity,” or Mars Exploration Rover (MER)-B, was deployed in its proper trajectory and is scheduled to land on Mars Jan. 25, 2004. The first rover “Spirit,” or MER-A, launched on June 10 by a Delta II, is scheduled to land on Mars Jan. 4, 2004.