Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov
George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-140
NASA SETS SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY PRELAUNCH EVENTS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- News conferences, events and operating hours
for NASA's Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the upcoming
launch of space shuttle Discovery. The STS-120 mission to the
International Space Station is set to lift off at 11:38 a.m. EDT on
Oct. 23.
On Friday, Oct. 19, the seven Discovery crew members are scheduled to
arrive at the Kennedy Space Center at 12:30 p.m. Badged media
planning to cover the event must be at Kennedy's News Center by 11
a.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander
Pam Melroy will make a brief statement to media. NASA Television will
provide live coverage.
NASA TV also will broadcast live countdown status briefings and news
conferences Oct. 20-22. Complete listings of news briefing times and
participants as well as hours of operation for the Kennedy News
Center and media credentialing office are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.htmlFor NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntvFor the latest information about the STS-120 crew and mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle -end-
STS-120 BRIEFING & EVENTS SCHEDULE
(All time are Eastern)
All briefings are held inside the Kennedy Press Site auditorium and
will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted.
L-4 Days - Friday, Oct. 19
12:30 p.m. - STS-120 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility
L-3 Days - Saturday, Oct. 20
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA Test Director
- Glenn Chin, STS-120 Payload Manager
- Kathy Winters, Shuttle Weather Officer
2 p.m. - Launch countdown officially begins (not on NASA TV)
L-2 Days - Sunday, Oct. 21
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Jeff Spaulding, NASA Test Director
- Glenn Chin, STS-120 Payload Manager
- Kathy Winters, Shuttle Weather Officer
1 p.m. (no earlier than) - STS-120 Launch Readiness News Conference
- LeRoy Cain, Launch Integration Manager, Space Shuttle Program
- Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle Launch Director
- Alan Thirkettle, ISS Program Manager, ESA
- Mauro Piermaria, ASI ESPERIA Mission Manager
- Kathy Winters, Shuttle Weather Officer
L-1 Day - Monday, Oct. 22
10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Steve Payne, NASA Test Director
- Kathy Winters, Shuttle Weather Officer
11:30 a.m. - Live Astronaut Webcast with Sandra Magnus
1 p.m. - Constellation Briefing
- Mark Geyer, Deputy Manager, Constellation Program
- Mark Kirasich, Deputy Manager, Orion Project
- Bob Ess, Manager, Ares 1-X Project
3 p.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves to launch position
Launch Day - Tuesday, Aug. 7
6:30 a.m. - Live launch commentary begins
Launch Day Crew Activities: (times may vary slightly)
1:30 a.m. -- Crew wakes up (not on NASA TV)
7:08 a.m. -- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (not on NASA TV)
7:08 a.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits
7:48 a.m. -- Depart for launch pad
8:18 a.m. -- Arrive at white room and begin ingress
9:33 a.m. -- Close crew hatch
11:38 a.m. -- Launch
Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference
- Chris Scolese, NASA Associate Administrator
- Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Space Operations
- LeRoy Cain, Mission Management Team
- Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle Launch Director
Kennedy News Center office hours for STS-120
Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and
timelines.
Friday, Oct. 19 --- (Launch minus 4 days) --- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 --- (Launch minus 3 days) --- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 --- (Launch minus 2 days) --- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 22 --- (Launch minus 1 day) --- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 23 --- (Launch) Flight day 1 --- 5 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 - Nov. 5 --- Flight days 2 - 13 --- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except
weekends)
Tuesday, Nov. 6 --- (Landing) Flight day 14 --- TBD
Media Badging Schedule
News media may obtain STS-120 mission credentials from the Kennedy
Space Center Pass and Identification Office on State Road 3. Office
hours of operation are listed below.
Friday, Oct. 19 ----- 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 ----- 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 ----- 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 22 ----- 6:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 23 ----- 4:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
News media are required to be under NASA Public Affairs escort at all
times while at Kennedy Space Center, except when at the News Center
or the Complex 39 cafeteria. No photography is allowed anywhere other
than the press site unless prior permission is granted by NASA Public
Affairs.
News media are allowed at the press site only when Public Affairs
personnel are on duty and the NASA News Center is open.
For the latest information on the STS-120 mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
