Aug 4, 2011

George H Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 george h diller@nasa gov

DC Agle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif 818-393-9011 agle@jpl nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M28-11

NASA OFFERS MEDIA ACCESS TO LUNAR-BOUND SPACECRAFT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA's GRAIL spacecraft, scheduled to launch to the moon in September, will be the focus of a media opportunity on Thursday, Aug 11, at 9:30 a m EDT at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Fla The event is an opportunity to photograph the two GRAIL spacecraft and interview project and launch program officials

GRAIL, short for the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, will be seen just prior to being transported to NASA's Pad 17-B at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and attached to the United Launch Alliance Delta II 7920-H expendable launch vehicle rocket

The spacecraft's primary science objectives are to determine the structure of the lunar interior, from crust to core, and to advance understanding of the thermal evolution of the moon

For the event, U S news media representatives may proceed directly to Astrotech located in the Spaceport Florida Industrial Park, 1515 Chaffee Drive, Titusville Access through the gate will start at 9:30 a m The event begins at 9:45 a m

Media identification and government photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport, will be required for access to Astrotech Journalists who are foreign nationals may attend only if they possess a permanently issued NASA media accreditation picture badge from the Kennedy Space Center, or a Kennedy issued white badge with an affixed green dot

Media should call Kennedy's update phone line at 321-867-2525 on Wednesday evening to assure the status of the event has not changed

For the media event, procedures for optically sensitive spacecraft must be followed by individuals entering the cleanroom where the spacecraft is being prepared for launch Full cleanroom attire (bunny suits) must be worn and will be furnished Please do not wear perfume, cologne or makeup Long pants and closed-toe shoes must be worn, no shorts or skirts

Photographers will need to clean camera equipment under the supervision of contamination-control specialists All camera equipment must be self-contained; no portable lights can be allowed Non-essential equipment such as suede, leather or vinyl camera bags or other carrying cases must be left outside the cleanroom No notebook paper, pencils or conventional pens are permitted; special pens and cleanroom paper will be provided No food, tobacco, chewing gum, lighters, matches or pocketknives will be allowed

Flash photography cannot be permitted There is adequate metal halide lighting in the facility for photography (white with slight green cast; suggested exposure for ISO-ASA 400 is 1/30 sec at f/5 6) Use of wireless microphones and cellular telephones are not allowed inside the cleanroom

Project management for GRAIL is the responsibility of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif The mission is led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass The launch is managed by NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center Spokespersons from JPL, spacecraft builder Lockheed Martin, and the Launch Services Program will be available for questions and interviews

For more information about the GRAIL mission, visit:

http://www nasa gov/grail

-end-

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