11.30.06 Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 Bruce Buckingham Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-184 NASA SETS SHUTTLE EVENTS, BRIEFINGS AND NEWS CENTER HOURS CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - News conferences, events and operating hours for NASA Kennedy Space Center's News Center in Florida are set for the Dec. 7 launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-116 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is slated for 9:35 p.m. EST. On Sunday, Dec. 3, the seven STS-116 crew members are due to arrive at Kennedy at 4:15 p.m. EST. Media planning to cover their arrival must be at the Kennedy News Center by 3:30 p.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander Mark Polansky will make a brief statement to the media. NASA Television will begin coverage of the crew's arrival and Polansky's remarks at 4 p.m. NASA TV also will cover the official start of the launch countdown Monday, Dec. 4, at 11 p.m. 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/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For the latest information about the STS-116 crew and mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle -end- STS-116 BRIEFINGS & 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 - Sunday, Dec. 3 4:15 p.m. - STS-116 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility L-3 Days - Monday, Dec. 4 11 p.m. - Launch countdown officially begins L-2 Days - Tuesday, Dec. 5 10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing - Steven Payne, NASA test director - Debbie Hahn, STS-116 payload manager - Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer 4 p.m. (No Earlier Than) - STS-116 Launch Readiness News Conference - LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, Space Shuttle Program - Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager - Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director - Frederic Nordlund, head of the European Space Agency's Washington Office - U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb Nordgren, 45th Weather Squadron L-1 Day - Wednesday, Dec. 6 10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing - Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director - Debbie Hahn, STS-116 payload manager - Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer Launch Day - Thursday, Dec. 7 11:43 a.m. - Tanking commences (Not on NASA TV) 3:30 p.m. - Live launch commentary begins Launch Day Crew Activities: (Times may vary slightly) 11:45 a.m. -- Crew wakes up (Not on NASA TV) 3:50 p.m. -- Crew photo opportunity 5:05 p.m. -- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (Not on NASA TV) 5:30 p.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits 5:45 p.m. -- Depart for launch pad 6:15 a.m. -- Arrive at white room and begin ingress 7:30 a.m. -- Close crew hatch 9:35 p.m. -- Launch Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference - Michael Griffin, NASA administrator - Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations - LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, Space Shuttle Program - Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director Kennedy News Center office hours for STS-116 (Hours may be adjusted for in-flight events) Sunday, Dec. 3 (Launch minus 4 days): 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4 (Launch minus 3 days): 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 (Launch minus 2 days): 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 (Launch minus 1 day): 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 (Launch) Flight day 1: 8 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Dec. 8 - 18 (Flight days 2 - 12): 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except weekends) Tues., Dec. 19 (Landing) Flight day 13: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m. (Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and timelines.) Media Badging Schedule News media may obtain STS-116 mission credentials from the Kennedy Space Center Pass and Identification office on State Road 3. Office hours of operation are listed below. Sunday, Dec. 3: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7: 7:30 a.m. - 8 p.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-116 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
