Updated Coverage for NASA/SpaceX Launch and Mission to Station
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:
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:
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:
For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:
For up-to-date SpaceX mission information and a schedule of NASA TV coverage, visit:
For further information on NASA's COTS program, go to:
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Clint Bradford [email protected]
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Clint Bradford