NASA Sets MSL/Atlas V Launch Coverage Events

From: "[STS ISS STATUS]" <list.admin@aus-city.com>

Date: November 11th 2011

Nov 10, 2011

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

Dwayne Brown Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1726 dwayne c brown@nasa gov

Guy Webster Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif 818-354-6278 guy w webster@jpl nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-232

NASA SETS MSL/ATLAS V LAUNCH COVERAGE EVENTS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft with the Curiosity rover is set to launch to the planet Mars aboard an Atlas V rocket on Nov 25, 2011, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida The launch window extends from 10:25 a m to 12:08 p m EST The launch period for MSL extends through Dec 18

The spacecraft will arrive at Mars in August 2012 Curiosity has 10 science instruments to search for evidence about whether Mars had environments favorable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life The unique rover will use a laser to look inside rocks and release their gasses so that a spectrometer can analyze them and send the data back to Earth

Briefings about the mission are scheduled throughout the week leading to launch and will be held at the Kennedy Space Center's Press Site

Science Briefings and Prelaunch News Conference (all times are EST)

Monday, Nov 21, 1 p m : "What Do We Know About Mars?" Participants will be:

Michael Meyer, lead scientist, Mars Exploration Program NASA Headquarters, Washington

John Grotzinger, project scientist, Mars Science Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif

Bethany Ehlmann, scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Assistant professor, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif

Tuesday, Nov 22, 11 a m : "Looking for Signs of Life in the Universe" Participants will be:

Mary Voytek, director, Astrobiology Program NASA Headquarters, Washington

Jamie Foster, professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla

Pan Conrad, deputy principle investigator, Sample Analysis at Mars, MSL NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md

Steven Benner, director, Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution Gainesville, Fla

Catharine Conley, planetary protection officer NASA Headquarters, Washington

Tuesday, Nov 22, 1 p m : Prelaunch News Conference Participants will be:

Colleen Hartman, assistant associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters, Washington

Omar Baez, NASA launch director NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla

Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA Missions United Launch Alliance, Denver, Colo

Peter Theisinger, MSL project manager NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif

Clay Flinn, launch weather officer 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla

Curiosity Mission Science Briefing: This briefing will immediately follow the prelaunch news conference Participants will be:

Michael Meyer, lead scientist for Mars Exploration Program NASA Headquarters, Washington

John Grotzinger, project scientist for Mars Science Laboratory California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif

Paul Mahaffy, principal investigator for Sample Analysis at Mars investigation on Curiosity NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md

David Blake, principal investigator for Chemistry and Mineralogy investigation on Curiosity NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif

Michael Malin, principal investigator for the Mast Camera and Mars Descent Imager investigations on Curiosity Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, Calif

Roger Wiens, principal investigator for Chemistry and Camera investigation on Curiosity Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N M

Wednesday, Nov 23, 1 p m : "Why Mars Excites and Inspires Us" Participants will be:

Leland Melvin, associate administrator for Education NASA Headquarters, Washington

Scott Anderson, teacher and science department chairman Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts, El Paso, Texas

Clara Ma, student, NASA contest winner for naming Curiosity Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas

Veronica McGregor, manager, Media Relations Office NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif

Wednesday, Nov 23, 2 p m : "Missions to Mars: Robotics and Humans Together" (Originating from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston)

Doug Ming, manager, Human Exploration Science Office; MSL co-investigator NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Bret Drake, deputy chief architect, Human Spaceflight Architecture Team NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Matt Ondler, assistant director, Advanced Project Development NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Mike Gernhardt, NASA astronaut NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Dr John Charles, program scientist, Human Research Program NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

A post-launch news conference will be held at the NASA News Center approximately 2 1/2 hours after launch

Question-and-answer capability for all briefings will be available from other NASA field centers Reporters also can ask questions using a phone bridge provided by Johnson Space Center To use the bridge, journalists must call the Johnson newsroom 15 minutes prior to the start of each briefing at 281-483-5111

Accreditation and Media Access Badges

Reporters who want to cover the MSL prelaunch news conference, mission science briefing and the launch must complete the online accreditation process at:

https://media ksc nasa gov/

Accreditation for U S media must be received by Monday, Nov 21 Media may obtain their NASA access badge at the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office located near Gate 3 on State Road 405, just past the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Two forms of government-issued identification, one with a photo, will be required in order to receive an access badge The Kennedy Space Center Badging Office hours are 6 a m to 3 p m Monday through Friday, but the office will be closed on Thanksgiving For further information about accreditation, contact Laurel Lichtenberger at 321-867-4036

Atlas V Launch Vehicle Rollout

Wednesday, Nov 23: There will be a media opportunity to observe the rollout of the Atlas V rocket from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad Reporters should be at the Kennedy Press Site at 9 a m for transportation by bus to the viewing location near Space Launch Complex 41 Media should register their planned attendance at the event on a sign-up list at the Kennedy press site

Remote Camera Placement at Space Launch Complex 41

Wednesday, Nov 23: Photographers who wish to set up remote sound-activated cameras at the Atlas V launch pad will be taken by government bus to Space Launch Complex 41 Photographers should meet in the parking lot at the Kennedy Press Site at 12:30 p m Remote cameras are being placed at the pad two days before launch because the pad will be closed on Thanksgiving Day Media should plan on using a timer that can be set for more than 24 hours Only news media representatives establishing a remote camera at the pad will be permitted for this activity Photographers should register on the sign-up list at the Kennedy Press Site

Launch Day Press Site Access

Friday, Nov 25: Reporters will cover the MSL launch from the Kennedy Press Site Access will be through Gate 2 on State Road 3 or Gate 3 on State Road 405, east of the Kennedy Visitor Complex, beginning at 6 a m There will be no access through Gate 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station or Gate 4 to the north of Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy News Center Hours

Monday, Nov 21: 8 a m - 5 p m Tuesday, Nov 22: 8 a m - 5 p m Wednesday, Nov 23: 8 a m - 6 p m Thursday, Nov 24: Closed for Thanksgiving Friday, Nov 25: 5:30 a m - 6:30 p m

NASA Television Launch Coverage

On Friday, Nov 25, NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at 8 a m and conclude after spacecraft separation from the Atlas V occurs 53 minutes, 49 seconds after launch Live launch coverage will be carried on all NASA Television channels

A post-launch news conference will be held at the Kennedy Press Site approximately 2 1/2 hours after launch A post-launch news release will be issued as soon as the health of MSL is confirmed Spokespeople also will be available at the Press Site to answer questions and do interviews

For NASA Television downlink information, schedule information and streaming video, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ntv

Audio only of the news conferences and the 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 of the launch conductor's countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 7:15 a m Launch coverage also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146 940 MHz broadcast within Brevard County

NASA Web Coverage

Extensive prelaunch and launch day coverage of the liftoff of the MSL spacecraft aboard an Atlas V rocket will be available on NASA's home page on the Internet at:

http://www nasa gov

A prelaunch webcast for the MSL mission will be streamed on the Web on Wednesday, Nov 22, at noon Live countdown coverage through NASA's Launch Blog begins at 8 a m on Friday, Nov 25 Coverage features live updates as countdown milestones occur, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch preparations and liftoff For questions about countdown coverage, contact Jeanne Ryba at 321-867-7824

To view the webcast and the blog or to learn more about the MSL mission, visit the mission home page at:

http://www nasa gov/msl

Twitter

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the launch countdown To access the NASA News Twitter feed, visit:

http://www twitter com/nasakennedy

Recorded Status

Recorded status reports on the launch of MSL and updates to the media advisory will be provided on the Kennedy media phone line starting Monday, Nov 21 The telephone number is 321-867-2525

Wireless Capability

There is no wireless capability at Kennedy for the news media Reporters should plan to bring air cards

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif , manages the MSL mission Launch management is the responsibility of NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida The Atlas V launch service is provided by United Launch Alliance, Denver, Colo

-end-

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