My Pick of Pic's November 7, 2003 Journey to Mars - Blastoff The first in a series of computer generated images of the journey to Mars. We see here the Delta II rocket, carrying the MER space craft, lifting off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Both launches were very successful, but the MER-B (Opportunity) was reluctant to go. The launch date slipped over and over. It finally launched with less than a week left in the launch window. If it had slipped past the end of the window, it would have been at least four years before another launch window would present itself. The Rover 2003 Video Simulation is available on the Athena website. Mars Exploration Rover Mars Web @ JPL