NASA News: Fourth Status Report on Commercial Partners Progress Released

WASHINGTON - NASA released the fourth in a series of 60-day reports
today showing that commercial spaceflight development programs are
moving forward. The agency's U.S. industry partners continue to make
progress in developing a transportation system to ferry cargo and
U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. The development
of industry systems will allow NASA to concentrate its resources on
deep space exploration.

The latest status report highlights the progress and accomplishments
for the agency's commercial spaceflight development efforts. The
bi-monthly report is targeted toward non-technical stakeholders and
the American public, to inform them of NASA's achievements in
maintaining spaceflight leadership.

NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development programs are investing
financial and technical resources to stimulate efforts within the
private sector to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable, and
cost-effective space transportation capabilities.

For the report and more information visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial

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Media Accreditation Now Open For NASA/SPACEX Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., -- Media accreditation for NASA's second
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight is
open. Liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9
rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla., is targeted for Feb. 7, 2012.

During the flight, the Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems in advance of a
rendezvous with the International Space Station. The primary
objectives for the flight include a fly-by of the space station at a
distance of approximately two miles to validate the operation of
sensors and a flight system necessary for a safe rendezvous and
approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to
abort the rendezvous.

International news media representatives without U.S. citizenship must
apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities by
Jan. 5. The early accreditation deadline is needed because the U.S.
Air Force requires 30 days to process international media
credentials. For U.S. news media, the deadline to apply is Jan. 30.

All media accreditation requests need to be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact
NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 321-867-2468.

For more information on NASA's COTS program, visit

http://www.nasa.gov/cots

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