NASA's Next Shuttle Launch Now Targeted for April 5; Media Credentials Deadlines Updated
WASHINGTON -- NASA is targeting Monday, April 5, for the launch of the
next space shuttle from the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Shuttle Discovery's seven crew members had planned to lift off on
March 18 to begin the STS-131 mission to the International Space
Station. However, cold weather in Florida has delayed Discovery's
move to the Vehicle Assembly Building to complete the shuttle's
processing, which has delayed the rollout to the launch pad.
The Space Shuttle Program has specific rules against transporting the
shuttle when temperatures are below a certain level for extended
periods. The vehicle has thrusters with seals that could leak under
cold temperatures. As a result of the new STS-131 target launch date,
NASA has extended the media accreditation deadlines. Deadlines for
journalists to apply for the shuttle rollout and Terminal Countdown
Demonstration Test are as early as Feb. 23. To be accredited,
reporters must work for verifiable news-gathering organizations. No
substitutions of credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.
Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by
journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries
include those with which the United States has no diplomatic
relations, countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors
of terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo, and countries
associated with proliferation concerns. Please contact the
accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should confirm they
have been accredited before they travel.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests
via the Web at:
http://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when
applying. After accreditation is approved, applicants will receive
confirmation via e-mail.
Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access
to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The
application deadline for mission badges is March 24 for all reporters
requesting credentials.
Discovery's rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, to
Launch Pad 39A, planned for March 2, follows its rollover from
Orbiter Processing Facility-3 to the VAB, which is targeted for Feb.
22. The launch countdown dress rehearsal, known as the Terminal
Countdown Demonstration Test, is targeted for March 5. Media must
apply by 5 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 23 to cover rollout and the
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test.
Reporters with special logistic requests for Kennedy, such as space
for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or work space,
must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by March 11 at:
laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.
There is no longer free wireless Internet access provided at Kennedy's
news center. Work space in the news center and the news center annex
is provided on a first-come basis, limited to one space per
organization. To set up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network
lines, media representatives must make arrangements with BellSouth at
800-213-4988. Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy
newsroom prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat,
contact Patricia Christian at:
patricia.christian-1@nasa.gov
Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of
Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by
presenting STS-131 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media
representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need
to apply for credentials only at Johnson. The application deadline
for mission badges is March 19 for all reporters requesting
credentials.
Journalists covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy
credentials must contact the Johnson newsroom by March 19 to arrange
workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible
for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at NASA's White Sands
Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, Johnson
will arrange credentials.
DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER
Notice for a space shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center on Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short.
Domestic media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based
personnel who could travel quickly to Dryden. Deadlines for
submitting Dryden accreditation requests are March 9 for non-U.S.
media, regardless of citizenship, and April 12 for U.S. media who are
U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.
For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic
media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of
birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of
the issuing state, and the last six digits of their social security
number.
In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives,
regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their
citizenship, visa or passport number and its expiration date. Foreign
nationals representing either domestic or foreign media who have
permanent residency status must provide their alien registration
number and expiration date.
Journalists should fax requests for credentials on company letterhead
to 661-276-3566 or e-mail requests to:
DrydenPAO@nasa.gov
Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for
follow-up contact. Journalists who previously requested credentials
will not need to do so again.
NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:
Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468,
allard.beutel@nasa.gov
Johnson Space Center: James Hartsfield, 281-483-5111,
james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov
Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893,
leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov
For information about the STS-131 mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Two STS-131 crew members, NASA astronaut Clay Anderson and Naoko
Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, are tweeting
about preparing for their mission. They can be followed at:
http://www.twitter.com/Astro_
and
http://www.twitter.com/Astro_
For information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
Source: NASA
