NASA News <br /><br />National Aeronautics and<br /><br />Space Administration<br /><br /> <br /><br />John F. Kennedy Space Center<br /><br />Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899<br /><br />AC 321 867-2468<br /><br />_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ <br /><br />For Release: June 8, 2003<br /> <br /><br />George Diller<br />Kennedy Space Center<br />321/867-2468 <br /> <br /><br />KSC Release No. 42-03 <br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Note to Editors:<br /><br />MER-A LAUNCH DELAYED FOR 24 HOURS<br /> <br /><br />Launch of the MER-A spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II vehicle scheduled for June 8 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. has been postponed for 24 hours.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Due to approaching thunderstorms and the potential for high winds at the pad at launch time, mission managers opted to call off today’s launch attempt. The weather forecast for tomorrow is similar to that of today’s forecast with a 60 percent chance of violation of weather criteria. The forecast for Tuesday shows a slight improvement with a 40 percent chance of violation of weather criteria.<br /><br /> <br /><br />The launch times available for Monday, June 9 are 2:02:23 p.m. and 2:40:30 p.m. EDT.<br /><br /> <br /><br />NASA Television countdown coverage will begin 12 noon EDT tomorrow.