Updated Coverage for NASA/SpaceX Launch and Mission to Station

April 27, 2012

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: M12-078

UPDATED COVERAGE FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH AND MISSION TO STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The second SpaceX demonstration launch for
NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) has been
rescheduled for a liftoff on Monday, May 7. Liftoff of the Falcon 9
rocket carrying a Dragon capsule will occur from Space Launch Complex
40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There is a
single instantaneous launch opportunity at 9:38 a.m. EDT.
NASA Television launch commentary from Cape Canaveral begins at 8 a.m.


During the flight, SpaceX's Dragon capsule will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems, including the
capability to rendezvous and berth with the International Space
Station. The primary objectives for the flight include a flyby of the
space station 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. Once these capabilities are successfully proven, the
Dragon will be cleared to berth with the space station.

FALCON 9 LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Saturday, May 5 (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 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center Press Site by
government bus at 9:15 a.m. for Space Launch Complex 40. Media will
be returned at approximately 11 a.m. SpaceX security regulations
require that media attending this event be U.S. citizens.

REMOTE CAMERA SETUPS

Sunday, May 6 (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 who want to participate in remote camera
setup will depart from Kennedy's 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 participating in this activity be U.S. citizens.

PRELAUNCH AND POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCES

Sunday, May 6 (L-1 day): The prelaunch news conference for the
NASA/SpaceX launch will be held at the Kennedy Press Site at 1 p.m.
NASA Television will provide live and streaming Internet coverage.

Monday, May 7, (Launch Day): A postlaunch news conference will be held
at Kennedy at approximately noon.

Media representative can participate in the news conference in- person
at Kennedy or via a phone bridge by calling NASA's Johnson Space
Center newsroom at 11:45 a.m. at 281-483-5111.

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 8 a.m. and
concludes at approximately 10:30 a.m.

On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor's countdown
activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on
321-867-7135 starting at 8 a.m. Launch information also will be
available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz, heard
within Brevard County.

NASA TV MISSION COVERAGE

Tuesday, May 8 (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 9 (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 10 (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 11: Live coverage of the hatch opening and entry of the
Dragon spacecraft includes a ceremony during which the ISS crew will
mark the occasion.

Thursday, May 24: A news briefing at Johnson will preview the
following day's unberthing and splashdown of the Dragon spacecraft.

Friday, May 25: 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.

NEWS MEDIA LAUNCH VIEWING

Monday, May 7 (Launch day): News media may view the launch from the
Kennedy Press Site. A sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom
for those media representatives wanting to cover the launch from the
NASA Causeway or from the roof of the Complex 39 Launch Control
Center. These are primarily photo locations as there are no
facilities available. Buses will depart from the Press Site parking
lot at 8:15 a.m.

KENNEDY MEDIA CREDENTIALING

Media who want to attend the prelaunch events, including the prelaunch
news conference and launch, may request accreditation online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The deadline for U.S. media to apply for launch accreditation is May
4. The deadline for international media to apply has passed.
Journalists who have already been approved for accreditation do not
need to reapply.

The Gate 2 Pass and Identification Building on State Road 3, Merritt
Island, will be open to pick up press credentials on the following
schedule:

Friday, May 4: noon - 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 5: 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 6: 9 a.m. - noon
Monday, May 7: 3:30 - 8:30 a.m.

News media credentials will be valid for mission activities from
launch through splashdown at both the Kennedy Space Center and
Johnson Space Center.

KENNEDY PRESS SITE - HOURS OF OPERATION

Friday, May 4: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 5: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 6: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Monday, May 7: 4 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Media badges will be valid for access to the Kennedy Press Site
through Gate 2 on State Road 3, Merritt Island; Gate 3 on State Road
405, located east of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; and
Gate 4 on State Road 3, south of County Road 402 near the entrance to
the Canaveral National Seashore.

For further information about media accreditation, contact Jennifer
Horner at 321-867-6598.

For more information about the NASA/SpaceX launch, 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 Monday, April 30. U.S. media
wanting access only to Johnson must submit a request for badging by
Friday, May 4. Media who have already been approved for accreditation
do not need to reapply.

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 further information on NASA's COTS program, go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/cots


-end-



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