June 5, 2003 NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) project kicks
off by launching the first of two unique robotic geologists on
June 8. The identical rolling rovers see sharper images, can
explore farther and examine rocks better than anything that's
ever landed on Mars. The second rover mission, bound for a
different site on Mars, will launch as soon as June 25. "The
instrumentation onboard these rovers, combined with their great
mobility, will offer a totally new view of Mars, including a
microscopic view inside rocks for the first time," said Dr. Ed
Weiler, associate administrator for space science, NASA
Headquarters, Washington. "However, missions to Mars have proven
to be far more hazardous than missions to other planets.
Historically, two out of three missions, from all countries who
have tried to land on Mars, ended in failure. We have done
everything we can to ensure our rovers have the best chance of
success," Weiler said. The first MER will arrive at Mars on Jan.
4, 2004, the second, Jan. 25. Plans ca