Mars Exploration Rovers

Detailed Launch Window

Mission Timeline: Launch - archived

Detailed Launch Window


The launch periods for each rover are as follows:

Mission
Open
Close
Arrival
Rover A "Spirit" June 5, 2003 June 24, 2003 January 4, 2004
Rover B "Opportunity" June 25, 2003 July 15, 2003 January 25, 2004

Daily Windows

Two launch opportunities occur each day during the launch period. Spirit, the first rover, launched on June 10. Opportunity, the second rover, launched on July 7. The launch times become earlier each day through the launch period.


Launch Opportunities for Mars Exploration Rover named, "Spirit"

Launch Date (UTC)
Liftoff Time (hh:mm:ss)
1st Opportunity 2nd Opportunity
UTC EDT UTC EDT
June 8, 2003 18:05:55 14:05:55 18:44:57 14:44:57
June 9, 2003 18:02:23 14:02:23 18:40:30 14:40:30
June 10, 2003 17:58:47 13:58:47 18:36:49 14:36:49
June 11, 2003 17:55:06 13:55:06 18:33:03 14:33:03
June 12, 2003 17:51:22 13:51:22 18:29:14 14:29:14
June 13, 2003 17:47:32 13:47:32 18:25:20 14:25:20
June 14, 2003 17:43:38 13:43:38 18:21:21 14:21:21
June 15, 2003 17:39:37 13:39:37 18:17:16 14:17:16
June 16, 2003 17:35:21 13:35:21 18:12:56 14:12:56
June 17, 2003 17:30:02 13:30:02 18:07:31 14:07:31
June 18, 2003 17:19:28 13:19:28 17:57:00 13:57:00
June 19, 2003 17:21:20 13:21:20 17:58:44 13:58:44
June 20, 2003 17:18:39 13:18:39 17:55:58 13:55:58
June 21, 2003 17:14:53 13:14:53 17:52:07 13:52:07
June 22, 2003 17:10:53 13:10:53 17:48:02 13:48:02
June 23, 2003 17:06:48 13:06:48 17:43:52 13:43:52
June 24, 2003 17:02:41 13:02:41 17:39:40 13:39:40



Launch Opportunities for Mars Exploration Rover named, "Opportunity"

Launch Date (UTC)
Liftoff Time (hh:mm:ss)
1st Opportunity 2nd Opportunity
UTC EDT UTC EDT
June 25, 2003 04:38:16 00:38:16 05:19:19 01:19:19
June 26, 2003 04:27:31 00:27:31 05:08:45 01:08:45
June 27, 2003 04:16:55 00:16:55 04:58:19 00:58:19
June 28, 2003 04:06:30 00:06:30 04:48:03 00:48:03
June 29, 2003 03:56:16 23:56:16 (June 28) 04:37:59 00:37:59
June 30, 2003 03:46:14 23:46:14 (June 29) 04:28:07 00:28:07
July 1, 2003 03:36:27 23:36:27 (June 30) 04:18:28 00:18:28
July 2, 2003 03:26:54 23:26:54 (July 1) 04:09:03 00:09:03
July 3, 2003 03:17:37 23:17:37 (July 2) 03:59:54 23:59:54 (July 2)
July 4, 2003 03:08:36 23:08:36 (July 3) 03:51:01 23:51:01 (July 3)
July 5, 2003 02:59:52 22:59:52 (July 4) 03:42:24 23:42:24 (July 4)
July 6, 2003 02:51:25 22:51:25 (July 5) 03:34:05 23:34:05 (July 5)
July 7, 2003 02:43:16 22:43:16 (July 6) 03:26:02 23:26:02 (July 6)
July 8, 2003 02:35:23 22:35:23 (July 7) 03:18:15 23:18:15 (July 7)
July 9, 2003 02:27:46 22:27:46 (July 8) 03:10:44 23:10:44 (July 8)
July 10, 2003 02:20:25 22:20:25 (July 9) 03:03:28 23:03:28 (July 9)
July 11, 2003 02:13:18 22:13:18 (July 10) 02:56:26 22:56:26 (July 10)
July 12, 2003 02:06:26 22:06:26 (July 11) 02:49:39 22:49:39 (July 11)
July 13, 2003 01:59:51 21:59:51 (July 12) 02:43:08 22:43:08 (July 12)
July 14, 2003 01:53:40 21:53:40 (July 13) 02:37:00 22:37:00 (July 13)
July 15, 2003 01:48:02 21:48:02 (July 14) 02:31:24 22:31:24 (July 14)