Tuesday, December 9, 2008

NASA Delays Mars Science Laboratory Launch To 2011

In a rare astronomical occurrence, called planetary conjunction, planets Venus (top l.), and Jupiter (top r.), were seen with a crescent moon. The three orbs created a momentary smiley face in the sky over Asia on Monday. Bullit Marquez/AP

From Christian Science Monitor:

For folks looking forward to the launch of another ground-breaking Mars mission next year, you’ll have to wait. Top officials with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced today that they have pushed back the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory by two years.

In the process, the agency’s green-eye-shade crew will have to come up with an extra $400 million for the project. That’s the delay’s cost on a mission whose price tag already is estimated at $1.88 billion before all is said and done.

The delay is the second in a year, with the project currently running about two months behind schedule.

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