Date: December 21st 2007

Dec 20, 2007

Bill Johnson Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 william r johnson@nasa gov

RELEASE: 60-07

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AIRSPACE ADVISORY FOR SANTA FLYBY DEC 24

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla - NASA has granted permission to Santa Claus to access Kennedy Space Center's airspace on Christmas Eve, Dec 24

The jolly fellow, in his reindeer-propelled sleigh, is expected to fly over the center sometime between 10 p m and midnight to take a close look at the ongoing construction at Launch Pad 39B Workers are installing a new lightning protection system as part of the efforts to transition the pad from a space shuttle facility into the launch site for the Constellation Program's Ares I crew launcher

North Pole officials are interested in the weather safety upgrades at the launch pad because they may install a similar system around Santa's workshop The new system at Pad 39B will feature large cables strung between three 594-foot-tall steel and fiberglass towers The towers will be the tallest structures on KSC property when completed, surpassing the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building

"We're always concerned about safety, so following NASA's lead is always a good idea," said chief toymaker Buzz Elfrin He added that Space Coast residents and families living in surrounding areas may be able to catch a glimpse of Santa during his flyby of the center, depending on the sleigh's altitude

The launch pad will be the site of the first Ares test flight, called Ares I-X, scheduled for 2009 NASA's Constellation Program is developing a new space transportation system that will carry humans back to the moon in the next decade and enable them to stay

The automated landing systems will be left on in the automatic mode at the Shuttle Landing Facility during Christmas Eve to support any emergency Santa may experience while in the Central Florida area No government expense is involved in leaving these landing systems on

Although it has never been confirmed that Santa has made a pit stop at Kennedy, a routine sweep of the runway to remove debris after the holidays last year produced one ripped stocking, a broken toy truck and what appeared to be reindeer tracks

For more information about NASA's exploration program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/constellation

-end-

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