NASA News National Aeronautics and Space Administration John F. Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899 AC 321-867-2468 ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ For Release: Aug. 12, 2003 Bruce Buckingham Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321/867-2468 KSC Release No.: 69 - 03 SCISAT LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY ON PEGASUS XL The launch of the Canadian Space Agency's SCISAT-1 (Scientific Satellite Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL vehicle occurred on time from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 10:09.33 p.m. EDT. The 330-pound SCISAT-1 spacecraft was placed into a 400-mile-high polar orbit at an inclination of 73.9 degrees following spacecraft separation which occurred 10 minutes, 38 seconds after deployment from the L-1011. The SCISAT-1 spacecraft will investigate processes that control the distribution of ozone in the upper atmosphere. The purpose of the mission is to measure and understand the chemical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere, particularly at high altitudes. The data from the satellite will provide Canadian and international scientists with improved measurements relating to global ozone processes and help policymakers assess existing environmental policy and develop protective measures for improving the health of our atmosphere, preventing further ozone depletion. This mission is designed to last two years. -- end -- ------------------------------------------------------------- For automatic email subscriptions to this KSC originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to mailto:ksc-news_release-subscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov. With no subject or message. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. To remove your name from the list at any time, send an email addressed to mailto:ksc-news_release-unsubscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov . With no subject or message. or you can (un)subscribe on the World Wide Web at: http://kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov/ Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm .
