NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321 867-2468
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Release: Oct. 20, 2004
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
KSC Release No. 83 - 04
NASA PROVIDES LIVE PRE-LAUNCH WEBCAST AND WEB LAUNCH COVERAGE FOR DART
NASA Direct! is featuring a live pre-launch webcast and mission countdown coverage of the upcoming launch of NASA’s Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft Oct. 26, 2004.
Web coverage begins with a live pre-launch webcast scheduled for Oct. 23, 7 p.m. EDT and includes informative interviews and Q & A with NASA experts.
Live launch coverage begins approximately one hour prior to liftoff set for Oct. 26 at 2:13 p.m. EDT. As DART reaches important launch and mission events, NASA will update its Virtual Launch Control Center keeping the public informed during the countdown from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The DART webcast covers all aspects of the launch, spacecraft technology and mission. Tiffany Nail, Launch Services Support Specialist, hosts the program. 1st Lt. Lee Barnhill, DART launch weather officer, details the latest weather status at Vandenberg and what conditions are required for a safe launch. Pegasus Program Manager, Bryan Baldwin explains the Pegasus launch vehicle and the integral part it plays in DART's successful maneuvering. Tim Rumford, DART's Program Manager provides insight into the unique qualities of the spacecraft and its autonomous abilities.
Along with them, Omar Baez, NASA Launch Manager, describes the rocket preparation, launch process and readiness of the launch vehicle. NASA Project Manager, Jim Snoddy, caps the program with a discussion on the advanced technology required to achieve NASA's goals for this ambitious mission.
DART WEB COVERAGE SCHEDULE (times are EDT and subject to change)
L-3 Days – Saturday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. EDT
NASA Direct! webcast: “DART Launch, Mission and Technology”
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/elv/dart/event1.htm
Program guests will be answering questions submitted to the NASA Direct! Question Board from space enthusiasts around the world. Questions can be submitted and be viewed online at http://webcast.ksc.nasa.gov/vidapp/?event=45.
L-0 Days - Launch Day coverage, Tuesday, Oct. 26 begins at approx. 1 p.m. EDT
Live countdown coverage from the Virtual Launch Control Center, located at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mission/vlcc.htm. Coverage will feature real-time updates as milestones occur during the countdown, as well as streaming video clips of countdown events. All videos are provided in Real Video format.
For the latest information on this mission, go to NASA’s DART Web site at http://www.nasa.gov/dart
For further information about the DART web events, contact Dennis Armstrong at 321/867-2468.
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