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NASA Launching Two Mars Rovers in June

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the red-planet-or-bust dept.

shaniber writes "NASA is planning the launch of the Mars Exploration Rovers this month. The rovers are scheduled for two two separate launches, between June 5th and July 15th. These rovers will both work as robotic geologists, including a human-eye height panoramic camera and a miniature thermal emmision spectrometer amongst their scientific equipment. NASA plans on webcasting the launches, as well. A press kit, with many more details, is also available as a pdf."

2 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. The payload by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The science payload's page is on Cornell's site here.

  2. Re:Two probes from NASA, one from ESA. by flyingdisc · · Score: 5, Informative
    There are actually 4 missions. Nozomi which is launched by the Japanese, and will reach martian orbit at a similar time to the mars express.

    The amusing thing about nozomi (meaning hope) is that it was launched in 1998 - but used too much fuel and was unable to reach mars in that window - it's been bouncing off various planets including a swing by earth again to realign it with the current mars window. So there will be a japanese martian orbiter as well - just 4 years late.