Grey Hautaluoma/Ashley Edwards
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0668/1756
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov, ashley.edwards-1@nasa.gov

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-089

NASA OPENS MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR LAUNCH OF MOON MISSIONS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO,
and Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS,
missions to the moon are preparing for launch. The missions are
targeted to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida
aboard an Atlas V rocket no earlier than June 17, 2009, at 3:51 p.m.
EDT.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will focus on the selection of safe
landing sites, identification of lunar resources and the study of how
lunar radiation will affect humans. Parts of the Lunar Crater
Observation and Sensing Satellite will impact the moon twice in its
search for water ice.

International journalists planning to cover the launch of LRO and
LCROSS must apply for accreditation by May 27. The deadline for U.S.
reporters to apply for accreditation is June 10. Media
representatives applying for credentials should submit requests via
the Web at:



https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Two forms of government-issued identification, one with a photo, will
be required to receive an access badge for NASA's Kennedy Space
Center to cover the prelaunch news conference and launch. For further
information about accreditation, contact Laurel Lichtenberger at
Kennedy at 321-867-4036.

For more information about the LRO mission, visit



http://www.nasa.gov/lro


For more information about the LCROSS mission, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/lcross