Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
MEDIA ADVISORY: 69-06
NASA INVITES MEDIA TO STS-116 COUNTDOWN TEST ACTIVITIES
News media are invited to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to
cover activities during the terminal countdown demonstration test set
for Nov. 13 to 16 in preparation for the upcoming 12-day mission,
designated STS-116, to the International Space Station. Launch is
targeted for Dec. 7.
The countdown test is standard prelaunch training and provides a crew
opportunities which include emergency egress training, a simulated
launch countdown and payload familiarization. The crew includes
Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialists
Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick and Christer
Fuglesang, and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams, who will join
Expedition 14 in progress.
Following the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery at Launch Pad 39B on
Thursday, technicians are preparing the vehicle and the pad for the
countdown test activities. Discovery's journey to the pad began at
12:29 a.m. Thursday and the vehicle was at the pad about seven and a
half hours later.
Events
Nov. 13 - STS-116 crew arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility: Media
must arrive at the KSC Newsroom by 2 p.m. for transportation to the
runway. Crew arrival will not be broadcast live on NASA Television.
Nov. 15 - STS-116 crew question-and-answer session at Launch Pad 39B:
Media must arrive at the KSC Newsroom by 11:30 a.m. for
transportation to the pad. The media session will be broadcast live
on NASA Television.
Nov. 16 - STS-116 crew walkout for test: Media must arrive at the KSC
Newsroom by 6:15 a.m. for transportation to the Operations and
Checkout Building. Walkout will not be covered live on NASA
Television.
Proper dress is required for all events and includes full-length pants
and closed, flat shoes. No sleeveless shirts are permitted.
Permanently badged media interested in attending this event are asked
to contact the Press Site at (321) 867-2468 by close of business
Friday. Media without KSC credentials should submit accreditation
requests via the online accreditation Web site at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.govSince dates and times of this event are subject to change, updates are
available by calling (321) 867-2525.
NASA Television will provide live coverage of the STS-116 crew
question-and-answer session on Nov. 15.
NASA's Video File airs on the Media Channel (Program 103) at 6 - 8 and
9 - 11 a.m.; 12 - 2 and 4 - 7 p.m.; and 10 p.m. - midnight. All times
are Eastern. The Media Channel is available on an MPEG-2 digital
C-band signal via satellite AMC-6; 72 degrees west longitude,
transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and
Hawaii, it's on AMC-7; 137 degrees west longitude, transponder 18C,
at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. A digital video broadcast
compliant integrated receiver decoder is required for reception. For
media unable to receive the Media Channel, a modified version of
Video File airs on the Public Channel at 9 a.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m.
(Eastern). For downlink, Media and Public Channel information and
access, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntvFor the latest information on the STS-116 mission and its crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
