NASA Sets Media Credential Deadlines For Next Space Shuttle Flight

WASHINGTON -- NASA has set media accreditation deadlines for the April
space shuttle flight to the International Space Station. Six
astronauts, including Commander Mark Kelly, are targeted to launch
aboard shuttle Endeavour on April 19 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The 14-day mission will be the 36th flight to the space station, and
the 25th and final scheduled flight for Endeavour. The STS-134
mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle
physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual
matter by measuring cosmic rays. The STS-134 crew also will deliver
the Express Logistics Carrier 3, a platform that carries spare parts
that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year.

Reporters must apply for credentials to attend the launch or cover the
mission from other NASA centers. To be accredited, reporters must
work for verifiable news-gathering organizations. No substitutions of
credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.

All journalists who are lawful permanent residents, have dual or
multiple U.S. citizenship or are U.S. citizens representing
international media outlets will have their credential applications
processed in the same manner as U.S. citizens who represent domestic media.

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 traveling.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests
via the Web at:

https://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 April 7 for all reporters
requesting credentials.

Endeavour is expected to move from Kennedy's Orbiter Processing
Facility-2 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Feb. 28. The
shuttle's move to Launch Pad 39A is planned for March 9. To attend
rollout, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EST March 2
to allow time for processing, and U.S. media representatives must
apply by March 7.

The practice launch countdown, known as the Terminal Countdown
Demonstration Test, and related training are scheduled for March 29
through April 1. To cover the activities, international journalists
must apply by 5 p.m. EDT March 22, and U.S. media representatives
must apply by March 25. Reporters with special requests for Kennedy,
such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections
or workspace, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by April 7 at:
laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov.

Wireless Internet access is available at Kennedy's news center.
However, access may be limited at times due to volume. Reporters
should have alternate wireless resources. Workspace 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 arrange 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 center's newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by
presenting STS-134 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media
representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need
to apply for credentials only at the center.

The application deadline for mission badges is April 7. International
journalists should contact Johnson before April 7 to ensure all
necessary paperwork and identification are submitted by the deadline.

Journalists covering the mission from Houston using Kennedy
credentials must also contact Johnson's newsroom by April 7 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 shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
in Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Media outlets
should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could
travel quickly to Dryden.

Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are March 24
for international journalists and April 27 for U.S. citizens or
journalists who have permanent residency status, regardless of their
media affiliation.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens or permanent resident
aliens representing bona fide 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, international journalists must provide either their
passport or visa number, country of issue and expiration date.
Journalists should e-mail requests to: DrydenPAO@nasa.gov.

Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for
follow-up contact.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468,
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Johnson Space Center: Kylie Clem, 281-483-5111, kylie.s.clem@nasa.gov

Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893,
leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For information about the STS-134 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Source: NASA

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