On Monday, Sept. 29, news media will have the opportunity to observe the rollout of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket in preparation for the first flight test of NASA’s new Orion spacecraft. The launch vehicle will be moved from the Horizontal Integration Facility to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

On hand to make remarks during the rollout will be Robert D. Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Tony Taliancich, East Coast launch director for United Launch Alliance.

On Tuesday, Sept. 30, news media will have the opportunity to see the Delta IV be raised from the horizontal to vertical position in its launch configuration. Orion is scheduled to be transported to Space Launch Complex 37 in mid-November for hoisting atop the rocket.

News media who wish to be present for the rollout should be at Kennedy’s Press Site at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 29, to be taken to the Horizontal Integration Facility.

News media who wish to witness the Delta IV being hoisted into the launch configuration should be at the Press Site at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, to be transported to a location adjacent to the launch pad to observe the activity.

News media without permanent credentials must apply for accreditation by 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.  Two forms of government-issued identification are required to receive a badge. One must be with a photograph such as a driver’s license or passport.  Badges will be available for pickup at the Kennedy Badging Office, located on State Road 405 east of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.  Hours for the Kennedy Badging Office are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Media must apply for credentials online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

International media accreditation for this event is closed.  Green card holders must submit a scanned copy of their card by email to jennifer.p.horner@nasa.gov for credential request processing no later than 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.  Questions about accreditation may be addressed to Jennifer Horner at 321-867-6598.

During Orion’s flight test, scheduled for Dec. 4, the spacecraft will travel 3,600 miles in altitude above the Earth’s surface and return home at speeds of 20,000 miles per hour while enduring temperatures near 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The flight is designed to test many of the systems critical to Orion before the spacecraft begins carrying humans to deep-space destinations on future missions.  For more information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/orion

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