Launch of second Mars probe successful

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AFP) Jul 08, 2003
The US space probe Opportunity was launched late Monday on a mission to Mars, after five postponements due to weather and technical problems.

Opportunity was the second of two robot probes designed to explore the planet's surface.

The spacecraft was originally set for launch June 25, but its flight has been repeatedly delayed by weather and technical problems.

The first of the twin probes, MER-A, or "Spirit," was launched on June 10, beginning a three-month, 500 million kilometer (310 million mile) voyage, intended to end on January 3, 2004 in the Gusev Crater, 15 degrees south of the equator of Mars.

The second probe is heading for the Meridiani Planum, a zone containing an concentration of ferrous oxide situated two degrees south of Mars' equator, where it is scheduled to set down on January 25, 2004 after a 491 million kilometer (305 million mile) journey.

SPACE.WIRE