NASA’s next Mars-bound spacecraft, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutionN, or MAVEN, is set to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket Nov. 18. The two-hour launch window extends from 1:28 to 3:28 p.m. EST.  Liftoff will occur from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41. 

Launch commentary coverage, as well as prelaunch media briefings, will be carried live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

MAVEN is the second mission for NASA’s Mars Scout Program and will obtain critical measurements of the Martian upper atmosphere to help understand the climate change over the Red Planet’s history.

MAVEN is the first spacecraft devoted to exploring and understanding the Martian upper atmosphere.  It will orbit the planet in an elliptical orbit that allows it to pass through and sample the entire upper atmosphere on every orbit.  The spacecraft will investigate how the loss of Mars’ atmosphere to space determined the history of water on the surface.

Prelaunch News Conference

NASA Television will air a prelaunch news conference at Kennedy Press Site TV Auditorium at 1 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 15. Briefing participants are:

-John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator
Science Mission Directorate, Washington

-Omar Baez, NASA launch director
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

-Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA Missions
United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colo.

-David Mitchell, NASA MAVEN project manager
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

-Guy Beutelschies, Lockheed Martin MAVEN project manager
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colo.

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

MAVEN Spanish Media Briefing

On Friday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. a MAVEN Mission Briefing will be conducted in Spanish and will be carried live on NASA TV.  Participants will be:

-Sandra Cauffman, deputy project manager
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

-Diana Calero, launch integration engineer
Launch Services Program, Kennedy Space Center

-Jared Espley, MAVEN science team member
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

PhoneSat 2 Media Availability

On Sunday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m., Andy Petro, program executive for NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology Program within the Space Technology Mission Directorate, will be available to give a mission overview and answer questions about the upcoming launch of PhoneSat 2, NASA’s second smartphone mission. NASA’s PhoneSat 2 cubesat is scheduled to launch Nov. 9 aboard an Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket from the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Va. PhoneSat 2 is a technology demonstration mission that highlights NASA's commitment to increase the capabilities and decrease the cost of American small satellites. Using off-the-shelf components, NASA hopes to evolve small satellite architecture.

MAVEN Mission Science Briefing

On Sunday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m., a MAVEN mission science briefing will air live on NASA TV.  Briefing participants are:

-Michael Meyer, lead Mars scientist
NASA Headquarters, Washington

-Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN principal investigator
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder

-Janet Luhmann, MAVEN deputy principal investigator
University of California at Berkeley

-Nick Schneider, MAVEN IUVS instrument lead
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder

-Paul Mahaffy, MAVEN NGIMS instrument lead
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

-David L. Mitchell, MAVEN SWEA instrument lead,
University of California at Berkeley

The Path Toward Humans to Mars

On Sunday, Nov. 17, at 11:30 a.m. in the Kennedy Press Site TV Auditorium, a briefing will outline NASA’s future human spaceflight plans. The briefing will be carried live on NASA TV.  Participants will be:

-Ellen Stofan, NASA chief scientist
NASA Headquarters, Washington

-John Grunsfeld, associate administrator
Science Mission Directorate, Headquarters

-William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator
Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, Headquarters

-Michael Gazarik, associate administrator
Space Technology Mission Directorate., Headquarters

Post-Launch News Conference

A MAVEN post-launch news conference is targeted for approximately 2 ½ hours after launch.  It will be held in the Kennedy Press Site TV Auditorium.  Participants will include:

-David Mitchell, NASA MAVEN project manager
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

-Bruce Jakosky, MAVEN principal investigator
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder

A post-launch news release also will be issued when the state-of-health of the MAVEN spacecraft is known. Spokespersons also will be available at the Press Site to answer questions.

Accreditation and Media Access Badges for Kennedy Space Center

Media wishing to cover the MAVEN briefings and launch must apply for credentials at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov/

U.S. media requests must be received no later than Nov. 12; the deadline for foreign media has passed. Media may obtain access badges at the Gate 2 Press Accreditation Office (PIDS).  For all news media, two forms of government issued identification are required upon arrival at Kennedy.  At least one form must be a government issued photo identification, such as a passport or driver’s license.  For further information about accreditation, contact Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598 or 867-2468.

The press accreditation office (PIDS) for the news media on SR 3 will be open on Friday, Nov. 15 between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 7:30 a.m. until noon;  on Sunday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.; on launch day, Monday, Nov. 18, the hours will be 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17, Gate 2 on SR 3 will be closed, however, access is available through Gate 3 on SR 405, which can be accessed via Space Commerce Way located immediately south of Gate 2 on SR 3.

Atlas V Launch Vehicle Rollout

Saturday, Nov. 16: There will be a media opportunity to observe rollout of the Atlas V rocket from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad. Media should be at Kennedy’s Press Site at 9 a.m. for transportation to the viewing location near Space Launch Complex 41. 

Remote Camera Placement at Space Launch Complex 41

Saturday, Nov. 16: Photographers who wish to set up remote sound-activated cameras at the Atlas V launch pad will be transported to Space Launch Complex 41 from the Kennedy Press Site parking lot at 1:30 p.m.

Launch Day Press Site Access

Monday, Nov. 18: Media will cover the MAVEN launch from Kennedy’s Press Site.  Access will be through Gate 3 on State Road 405, east of the Kennedy’s visitor complex and through Gate 2 on State Road 3.

Kennedy News Center Hours

Friday, Nov. 15:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17:  8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 18:  5:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

NASA Television Launch Coverage

On Monday, Nov. 18, NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 11 a.m. EST and conclude after the MAVEN spacecraft has separated from the Atlas V, which occurs about 52 minutes after launch. Live launch coverage will be carried on all NASA Television channels.

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Audio only of the press conferences and the launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220 or -1240 or -1260 or -7135.

All of the briefings will be carried live on NASA Television with question and answer capability available from other NASA field centers. Call-in questions also will be taken by dialing 321-867-2468 no later than 15 minutes before the start of each briefing to establish a position in the queue.

On launch day, "mission audio," the launch conductor’s countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 starting at 10:30 a.m.  Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz heard within Brevard County.

NASA Web Prelaunch and Launch Coverage

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

http://www.nasa.gov

     
Live countdown coverage through NASA's Launch Blog begins at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 18. 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 Nancy Bray at 321-867-9112.

To view the webcast and the blog or to learn more about the MAVEN mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/maven

For more information on the MAVEN mission, visit:

http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/maven/

Social Media

Join the conversation and follow the MAVEN mission online by using the #MAVEN on Twitter and Facebook at:

https://twitter.com/MAVEN2Mars

https://www.facebook.com/MAVEN2Mars

The NASA Kennedy Twitter and Facebook accounts will continuously be updated throughout the launch countdown at:

 http://www.twitter.com/NASAKennedy

https://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy

Throughout the launch countdown, the NASA LSP Twitter and Facebook accounts will be continuously updated throughout the launch countdown at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_LSP

https://www.facebook.com/NASALSP

Recorded Status

Recorded status reports and updates to the media advisory on the MAVEN launch will be provided through the Kennedy media phone line starting Thursday, Nov. 14.  The telephone number is 321-867-2525.

Wireless Capability

Wireless capability for news media is available at Kennedy’s Press Site.

NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy is responsible for launch management. United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colo., is the provider of the Atlas V launch service.  Lockheed Martin of Littleton, Colo., built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations after launch.

MAVEN's principal investigator is based at CU/LASP. The university provided science instruments and leads science operations, as well as education and public outreach, for the mission.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., manages the project and provided two of the science instruments for the mission. Lockheed Martin built the spacecraft and is responsible for mission operations. The University of California at Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory provided science instruments for the mission. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., provides navigation support, Deep Space Network support, and Electra telecommunications relay hardware and operations.