09.01.06 Allard Beutel Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4769 Bruce Buckingham Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-142 NASA UPDATES SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PRELAUNCH EVENTS News conferences, events and operating hours for the NASA Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the Sept. 6 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-115 mission to the International Space Station. The first countdown for Atlantis' launch was stopped Tuesday because of Tropical Depression Ernesto. On Saturday, Sept. 2, the six STS-115 crew members are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Media planning to cover the event must be at the Kennedy News Center by 9:30 a.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander Brent Jett will make a brief statement to the media. NASA Television will have live coverage of the arrival and Jett's remarks. NASA TV will also broadcast live a countdown status briefing and news conference on Monday, Sept. 4. Complete listings of news briefing times, participants, Kennedy News Center and media credentialing hours of operation are available in the online version of this media advisory at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/sep/HQ_M06142_115_pre-launch.html For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For the latest information about the STS-115 crew and mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle -end- STS-115 BRIEFING & EVENTS SCHEDULE (All time are Eastern) All briefings are held inside the Kennedy Press Site auditorium and will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted. Questions will only be taken from media at Kennedy. L-4 Days - Saturday, Sept. 2 10:30 a.m. - STS-115 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility L-3 Days - Sunday, Sept. 3 8 a.m. - Launch countdown officially begins (Not on NASA TV) L-2 Days - Monday, Sept. 4 10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing - Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director - Robbie Ashley, STS-115 payload manager - Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer 4 p.m. (No Earlier Than) - STS-115 Launch Readiness News Conference - LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager; Space Shuttle Program - Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director - U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb Nordgren, 45th Weather Squadron L-1 Day - Tuesday, Sept. 5 11 a.m. (Tentative) - Status Briefing 3 p.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves to launch position Launch Day - Wednesday, Sept. 6 2:30 a.m. - Tanking commences (Not on NASA TV) 6:30 a.m. - Live launch commentary begins Launch Day Crew Activities: (Times may vary slightly) 1:30 a.m. -- Crew wakes up (Not on NASA TV) 6:55 a.m. -- Crew photo opportunity 7:58 a.m. -- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (Not on NASA TV) 8:28 a.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits 8:38 a.m. -- Depart for launch pad 9:08 a.m. -- Arrive at white room and begin ingress 10:23 a.m. -- Close crew hatch 12:29 p.m. -- Launch Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference - Michael Griffin, NASA administrator - Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations - John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team - Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director KSC News Center office hours for STS-115 (Hours may be adjusted for in-flight events) Saturday, Sept. 2 (Launch minus 4 days) -- 8 a.m. - noon Sunday, Sept. 3 (Launch minus 3 days) -- CLOSED Monday, Sept. 4 (Launch minus 2 days) -- 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5 (Launch minus 1 day) -- 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 (Launch)/Flight day 1 -- 4 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sept. 7 - Sept. 16/Flight days 2 - 11 -- 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except weekend) Sunday, Sept. 17 (Landing)/Flight day 12 -- 4 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and timelines.) Media Badging Schedule News media may obtain STS-115 mission credentials from the Kennedy Space Center Pass and Identification office on State Road 3. Office hours of operation are listed below. Saturday, Sept. 2 -- 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3 -- CLOSED Monday, Sept. 4 -- 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5 -- 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 -- 7 a.m. - 11 a.m. News media are required to be under NASA Public Affairs escort at all times while at Kennedy Space Center, except when at the News Center or the Complex 39 cafeteria. No photography is allowed anywhere other than the press site unless prior permission is granted by NASA Public Affairs. News media are allowed at the press site only when Public Affairs personnel are on duty and the NASA News Center is open. For the latest information on the STS-115 mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
