Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
Josh Byerly
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
josh.byerly@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-070
COVERAGE SET FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH AND MISSION TO SPACE STATION
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Following the completion of NASA's flight
readiness review, the second SpaceX demonstration launch for NASA's
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program is
scheduled for Monday, April 30. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon
capsule will liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There is a single
instantaneous launch opportunity at 12:22 p.m. EDT.
NASA Television launch commentary from Cape Canaveral will begin at 11
a.m.
During the flight, SpaceX's Dragon capsule will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems, including
rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station (ISS).
The primary objectives for the flight include a flyby of the ISS at a
distance of approximately 1.5 miles to validate the operation of
sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous and
approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the ability to abort
the rendezvous. After these capabilities are successfully proven, the
Dragon will be cleared to berth with the ISS.
FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Saturday, April 28 (L-2 days): A photo opportunity of the Falcon 9
rocket and Dragon capsule on the launch pad will be available for the
news media. Spokespeople from SpaceX will be available to answer
questions.
Media will depart NASA's Kennedy Space Center press site by government
bus at 9:30 a.m. for Space Launch Complex 40. Media will be returned
at approximately 11 a.m. SpaceX security regulations require that
media representatives attending this event be U.S. citizens.
REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS
Sunday, April 29 (L-1 day): Media will be able to establish
sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad. The location is
within Space Launch Complex 40 on the east side of the pad outside
the perimeter fence. Media wanting to participate in remote camera
setup will depart from the Kennedy press site by government bus at
10:30 a.m. Only photographers establishing remote cameras can
participate in this activity. SpaceX security regulations require
that media representatives participating in this activity be U.S.
citizens.
PRELAUNCH AND POSTLAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCES
Sunday, April 29 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the
NASA/SpaceX Falcon 9 launch will be held at the Kennedy Press Site at
1 p.m. NASA Television will provide live and streaming Internet
coverage.
Monday, April 30 (L-0 day): A postlaunch news conference will be held
at Kennedy at approximately 2 p.m.
Media representatives can participate in the news conferences
in-person at Kennedy or via phone bridge by calling NASA's Johnson
Space Center newsroom 15 minutes prior to the start of each briefing
at 281-483-5111. For the postlaunch news conference, reporters also
can ask questions directly from other NASA field centers.
Audio of the prelaunch and postlaunch news conferences also will be
carried on the NASA "V" circuits, directly accessible by dialing
321-867-1220, 1240, 1260 or 7135. The briefings will be streamed live
on the agency's website.
NASA TV LAUNCH COVERAGE
Monday, April 30 (L-0 day): NASA TV live coverage begins at 11 a.m.
and concludes at approximately 1 p.m.
NASA TV MISSION COVERAGE
Tuesday, May 1 (Flight Day 2): An update on the Dragon's flight during
the daily "ISS Update" program from NASA's Johnson Space Center airs
at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, May 2 (Flight Day 3): Live coverage from NASA's Johnson
Space Center mission control in Houston as the Dragon spacecraft
performs its fly-under of ISS to test its systems begins at 2:30 a.m.
and will continue until the Dragon passes out of the vicinity of the
station. A news briefing will be held following the activities.
Thursday, May 3 (Flight Day 4): Live coverage of the rendezvous and
berthing of the Dragon spacecraft to the station begins at 2 a.m. and
will continue through the capture and berthing of the Dragon to the
station's Harmony node. A news briefing will be held once Dragon is
secured to the ISS.
Friday, May 4: Live coverage of the hatch opening and entry of the
Dragon spacecraft includes a ceremony during which the ISS crew will
mark the occasion.
Sunday, May 20: A news briefing at Johnson will preview the following
day's unberthing and splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft.
Monday, May 21: Live coverage of the unberthing, re-entry and
splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft in the Pacific Ocean. Specific
times of coverage will be provided at a later date.
KENNEDY MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Media representatives wanting to attend the prelaunch events,
including the prelaunch news conference and launch, may request
accreditation by registering online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov The Gate 2 Pass and Identification Building for the news media on
State Road 3, Merritt Island, will be open to pick up press
credentials on the following schedule:
Friday, April 27: noon - 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 28: 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Sunday, April 29: 9 a.m. - noon
Monday, April 30: 8 - 11:30 a.m.
News media credentials will be valid for mission activities from
launch through splashdown at both the Kennedy Space Center and the
Johnson Space Center.
For information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at
321-867-2468.
KENNEDY PRESS SITE - HOURS OF OPERATION
Friday, April 27: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 29: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, April 30: 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Media badges will be valid for access to the Kennedy Press Site using
Merritt Island's Gate 2 on State Road 3, and Gate 3 on State Road 405
located east of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
For launch information, contact the Kennedy press site at 321-867-2468
or visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy JOHNSON MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Media who are credentialed with badges at Kennedy for launch
activities will have their badges honored at Johnson for the duration
of the SpaceX mission. Please contact the Johnson newsroom for work
space information. International media wanting access only to Johnson
must submit the required documentation for badging by Friday, April
20. U.S. media wanting access only to Johnson must submit a request
for badging by Friday, April 27.
For mission information, contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111
or visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/johnson For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For up-to-date SpaceX mission information and a schedule of NASA TV
coverage, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/spacex For information on NASA's COTS program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/cots
