The launch vehicle for NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been cleared for flight. The launch is scheduled for Thursday, August 11. The launch window is from 7:50 to 9:35 a.m. EDT.

The launch was postponed for 24 hours due to a failure of a Redundant Rate Gryo Unit (RRGU) at the manufacturer. The unit is similar to two RRGU's that are part of the flight control system on MRO's Atlas V launch vehicle. The decision to go ahead with Thursday's launch was made today by launch vehicle engineers following test and evaluation of the failed RRGUs at the manufacturer. Similar units on the Atlas V at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Complex 41 were deemed acceptable for MRO's launch.

For interested media, the imagery opportunity for the Atlas V rollout from KSC's Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad departs from the KSC Press Site at 10:15 p.m. EDT tonight.

On launch day, Aug. 11, the KSC News Center will open at 4:30 a.m. EDT. Foreign national news media should meet at Gate 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5 a.m. to be escorted to the KSC Press Site. NASA TV live coverage of the launch begins at 5:30 a.m.

For information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mro