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KSC Public Affairs Contact:
George Diller (fax 407-867-2692)
E-mail: George.Diller-1@ksc.nasa.gov
LAUNCH OF GOES-J WEATHER SATELLITE
SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19
The launch of the GOES-J weather
satellite for NASA and NOAA aboard the AC-77 Atlas I rocket is scheduled
for May 19 at the opening of a launch window which extends from 1:42
a.m. to 2:55 a.m. EDT. The liftoff will be from Pad B at Launch Complex
36 on Cape Canaveral Air Station.
NASA/NOAA MEDIA BRIEFINGS
A pair of briefings will be held in the
NASA News Center auditorium on Thursday, May 18 beginning with the
prelaunch news conference at 10:30 a.m. Participating in this event will
be:
Floyd Curington, NASA Launch Manager,
Kennedy Space Center Pat Symons, NASA Launch Vehicle Manager, Lewis
Research Center Martin Davis, NASA Mission Director, Goddard Space
Flight Center Steven Kirkner, NOAA GOES Systems Acquisitions Manager
Joel Tumbiolo, Launch Weather Officer, USAF 45th Space Wing
Following immediately will be a NOAA
briefing on GOES-J satellite applications and Doppler weather radar
benefits for the nation. NOAA participants in this event will be:
Frederick Ostby, Director, National
Severe Storms Forecast Center Gary Davis, Director, Satellite Operations
James Purdom, Chief Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Steven Kirkner,
GOES System Acquisition Manager
A post-launch news conference will be
held on Cape Canaveral Air Station in the E&O building, Room 116 one
hour after launch.
REMOTE TELEVISION INTERVIEW
OPPORTUNITY
On L-1 day from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.,
pre-scheduled remote television interviews will be conducted. Available
for interviews are:
Frederick Ostby, Director, National
Severe Storms Forecast Center Jamison Hawkins, GOES Products
Manager
The interviews will be carried on
Spacenet 2, transponder 3, channel 5. The satellite is located at 69
degrees West. (This transponder is not NASA Television.) For information
about scheduling a remote interview contact Stephanie Kenitzer of the
National Weather Service Public Affairs Office at 301/713-0622.
LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE
On launch day, media covering the event
should assemble at the Gate 1 Pass and Identification building on Cape
Canaveral Air Station located on State Road 401. The convoy to Press
Site 1 will depart at 12:30 a.m.
After spacecraft separation of GOES-J
from the Centaur stage, media will convoy from Press Site 1 to the
E&O Building for the post-launch news conference. Those not desiring
to cover the post-launch briefing will be escorted back to Gate 1.
Media are not allowed to be unescorted on
Cape Canaveral Air Station at any time.
ACCREDITATION
Those who wish to cover the launch of
GOES-J and the associated prelaunch activities at the NASA News Center
should send a letter of request on news organization letterhead which
should include the names and social security numbers of those desiring
accreditation. Letters should be faxed to 407/867-2692 or may be
addressed to:
GOES-J Launch Accreditation
NASA PA-MSB K
ennedy Space Center, FL 32899
AC-77/GOES-J mission badges may be picked
up at Gate 2 on State Road 3 on Merritt Island on May 18 between 8 and
10 a.m., or at Gate 1 on Cape Canaveral Air Station starting at 12:15
a.m. on May 19. Badges will not be issued from the KSC News
Center.
An AC-77/GOES-J badge is required for all
media covering the launch from Press Site 1 on launch day.
All foreign press should immediately
request accreditation through the International Affairs Office at NASA
Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Contact Debra Rahn at
202/358-1639.
REMOTE CAMERAS
On Thursday, May 18 at 2 p.m., a bus will
depart the KSC News Center for Complex 36 for media photographers who
wish to establish remote cameras at the pad. There will be no access or
transportation from Gate 1 for remote camera set-ups.
KSC NEWS CENTER OVERNIGHT HOURS FOR
LAUNCH
The NASA News Center at KSC will be open
on May 19 starting at 12 midnight and remain open until one-half hour
after launch.
NASA TV COVERAGE OF GOES-J
NASA Television will carry live the NASA
AC-77/GOES-J prelaunch news conference on Thursday, May 18 starting at
10:30 a.m. The NOAA mission briefing will follow at 11 a.m.
On launch day, May 19, video programming
will begin at 12 midnight. Launch commentary will begin at 12:15 a.m.
and continue through spacecraft separation which occurs at 29 minutes
after liftoff. The post-launch news conference will not be carried on
NASA Television but audio of all AC-77/GOES-J media events will be on
the NASA "V" circuits which may be accessed by dialing
407/867-1220...1240...1260.
NASA Television is available on Spacenet
2, transponder 5, channel 9 located at 69 degrees West.
STATUS REPORTS
Recorded daily status reports on the
AC-77/GOES-J launch will be available on the KSC news media codaphone
starting on May 15. The telephone number is 407/867-2525. |
