Next Mars Rover Mission on Schedule Even as Cost Rises

By KENNETH CHANG Published: October 10, 2008

Despite another overrun that could push its cost to more than $2 billion, NASA's next- generation Mars rover mission remains on track for launching next fall, NASA officials said Friday.

"Things are going quite well technically," Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA headquarters, said in a telephone news conference.

Because of delays in some components like motors to move the rover's joints, additional staffing and resources were needed to keep the project on schedule, Dr. McCuistion said.

Officials in NASA's planetary sciences division met with the NASA administrator, Michael D. Griffin, on Friday to discuss the status of the mission. Dr. McCuistion said the meeting was regularly scheduled and typical for any of NASA's flagship missions.

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