ICON Launch Briefings and Events

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	October 17, 2018  MEDIA ADVISORY 016-18 ICON Launch Briefings and Events Illustration of NASA's ICON mission in orbit Credits: NASA NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON), which will study the frontier of space: the dynamic zone high in our atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above, is scheduled to launch on Friday, October 26. The 90-minute launch window will open at 4:00 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft will launch aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. ICON will be launching off the coast of Daytona at 39,000 ft. at a heading of 105.0 degrees. ICON will study the ionosphere, where terrestrial weather meets space weather. This dynamic zone high in Earth’s atmosphere can be a source of great beauty such as the aurora, but can also be disruptive to radio communications and satellites, and astronaut health. ICON will help determine the physical processes at play in this “frontier of space” -- thus paving the way for mitigating their effects on our technology, communications systems and society. The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed. Launch coverage will begin on NASA Television and the agency’s website at 3:45 a.m. EDT. The following is a complete schedule of mission coverage. L-2 Day (Wednesday, Oct. 24) Mission Briefing A mission briefing will be held at 1 p.m. EDT at the NASA Press Site Auditorium and will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Participants: Nicola Fox, Heliophysics Division Director, NASA HQ Omar Baez, Sr. Launch Director, Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy Space Center Robert Lockwood, Program Director, Science & Environmental Satellites, Northrop Grumman Bryan Baldwin, Sr. Director Space Launch Program, Northrup Grumman Capt. Matthew Walter, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Media and the public also may ask questions during the event using #askNASA. L-1011 Tour and Photo Opportunity Following the Mission Briefing, media can view the ICON spacecraft and tour the L-1011 aircraft.  Media should arrive at the Press Site no later than 2:15 p.m. EDT to be transported to the CCAFS Skid Strip.  ICON team members will be available to answer questions about Northrup Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket. L-0 Launch Day (Friday, Oct. 26) NASA TV Launch Coverage NASA TV live launch coverage will begin at 3:45 a.m. EDT. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135. NASA Web Prelaunch and Launch Coverage Prelaunch and launch day coverage of ICON will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning at 3:45 a.m. EDT as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468. You can follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at https://blogs.nasa.gov/icon/. For more information about the ICON mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/icon Join the conversation on social media by following on Twitter and Facebook at: https://twitter.com/NASASun https://www.facebook.com/NASASunScience Photo and video content for ICON is available at: http://images.nasa.gov/ -end-
	Press Contacts Dwayne Brown / Karen Fox Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 / 301-286-6284 dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov / karen.fox@nasa.gov Mary MacLaughlin Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468 mary.maclaughlin@nasa.gov
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