NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321 867-2468
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________
George H. Diller
June 17, 2002
NASA Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468
Cynthia O'Carroll
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
301/614-5563
Pat Viets
NOAA
301/457-5005
Staff Sgt. Rebecca Bonilla
Vandenberg Air Force Base
805/606-3595
KSC Release No. 60-02
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
NOAA-M/TITAN II ROCKET READY FOR LAUNCH JUNE 24
The launch of the NOAA-M polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aboard a U.S. Air
Force Titan II rocket is scheduled to occur on Monday, June 24. Liftoff
will be from Space Launch Complex 4 West at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif. The 10-minute launch window extends from 11:22 - 11:32 a.m. PDT.
The NOAA-M satellite will improve weather forecasting and monitor
environmental events around the world. NOAA-M is the third in the current
series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding
capabilities that will operate over the next 10 years. NOAA-M, built by
Lockheed Martin, will collect meteorological data and transmit the
information to the NOAA National Weather Service for its long-range weather
and climate forecasts. Users around the world will also be able to access
the satellite's images and data.
ACCREDITATION
News media desiring accreditation for the launch of NOAA-M should fax their
request on news organization letterhead to:
Staff Sgt. Rebecca Bonilla
30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
FAX: 805/606-8303
For further information on launch accreditation, the USAF Public
Affairs Office can be reached at 805/606-3595. Accreditation requests to
cover the launch should be received by noon on Friday, June 21.
PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE
The prelaunch news conference will be held on Sunday, June 23 at 1
p.m. PDT in the main conference room of the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office,
Building 840, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Participants will be:
Mike Mignogno, NOAA Polar Satellite Program Manager,
Suitland, Md.
Lt. Col. Clinton Crosier, Titan II Launch Director, 2nd Space Launch
Squadron
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Omar Baez, NASA Mission Director
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Karen Halterman, NASA Program Manager,
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Captain Scott Emert, Launch Weather Officer, 30th Weather Squadron
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Media desiring to cover the prelaunch news conference should meet at
the south gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base on California State Road 246 at
12:30 p.m. PDT. They will be escorted to the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office
in Building 840.
A post-launch news conference will not be held. However, media will
have the opportunity to interview launch officials afterward at the NASA
Mission Director's Center in Building 840, if desired.
REMOTE CAMERA SET-UP
Media desiring to establish sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad
will depart from the south gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base at 2 p.m. PDT
on Sunday, June 23, for SLC-4 West. Media should contact Staff Sgt. Rebecca
Bonilla in the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office at 805/606-3595 no
later than noon on Saturday, June 22, to make the necessary arrangements.
LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE
On launch day, Monday, June 24, media covering the NOAA-M/Titan II
launch should meet at the Vandenberg Air Force Base main gate located on
California State Road 1 at 10 a.m. PDT to be escorted to the press site
located on north Vandenberg Air Force Base. After launch, media will be
escorted back to the main gate, or to the NASA Mission Director's Center in
Building 840 for interviews if desired.
NASA TELEVISION AND VOICE CIRCUIT COVERAGE
NASA Television will carry the prelaunch news conference starting at
1 p.m. PDT on Sunday, June 23. On launch day, June 24, NASA TV coverage of
the countdown will begin at 10 a.m. PDT and conclude after the spacecraft
reaches orbit at 16 minutes after liftoff.
A complete NOAA-M video package will be broadcast on Launch-1 day, Sunday,
June 23, following the prelaunch press conference and on Monday, June 24, at
noon and 3 p.m. EDT during the NASA TV Video File.
NASA Television is carried on GE-2, transponder 9C located at 85
degrees West longitude. Audio only will be available on the "V" circuit
numbers that may be accessed directly by dialing 321/867- 1220, 1240, 1260,
or 7135.
NASA Television coverage of the NOAA-M launch will also be webcast
on the NASA-KSC Home Page at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov. Choose "KSC Live
Video Feeds" followed by "NASA Television Coverage."
NASA NOAA-M NEWS CENTER
The NOAA-M News Center at the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office will
be staffed beginning Thursday, June 20. For launch information beginning at
that time, contact George Diller at 805/605-3051. A recorded status report
will also be available at that time by dialing 805/734-2693.
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