NASA Sets Media Credential Deadlines For Next Space Shuttle Flight

Joshua Buck

Headquarters, Washington     

WASHINGTON -- NASA has set media accreditation deadlines for the April space shuttle flight to the International Space Station. Six astronauts, including Commander Mark Kelly, are targeted to launch aboard shuttle Endeavour on April 19 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The 14-day mission will be the 36th flight to the space station, and the 25th and final scheduled flight for Endeavour. The STS-134 mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays. The STS-134 crew also will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier 3, a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year.

Reporters must apply for credentials to attend the launch or cover the mission from other NASA centers. To be accredited, reporters must work for verifiable news-gathering organizations. No substitutions of credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.

All journalists who are lawful permanent residents, have dual or multiple U.S. citizenship or are U.S. citizens representing international media outlets will have their credential applications processed in the same manner as U.S. citizens who represent domestic media.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries include those with which the United States has no diplomatic relations, countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo and countries associated with proliferation concerns. Please contact the accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should confirm they have been accredited before traveling.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests via the Web at https://media.ksc.nasa.gov.

Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when applying. After accreditation is approved, applicants will receive confirmation via e-mail.

Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The application deadline for mission badges is April 7 for all reporters requesting credentials.

Endeavour is expected to move from Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Feb. 28. The shuttle's move to Launch Pad 39A is planned for March 9. To attend rollout, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EST March 2 to allow time for processing, and U.S. media representatives must apply by March 7.

The practice launch countdown, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, and related training are scheduled for March 29 through April 1. To cover the activities, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EDT March 22, and U.S. media representatives must apply by March 25. Reporters with special requests for Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or workspace, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by April 7 at: laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov.

Wireless Internet access is available at Kennedy's news center. However, access may be limited at times due to volume. Reporters should have alternate wireless resources. Workspace in the news center and the news center annex is provided on a first-come basis, limited to one space per organization. To set up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network lines, media representatives must arrange with BellSouth at 800-213-4988. Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy newsroom prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat, contact Patricia Christian at: patricia.christian-1@nasa.gov.

Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston by calling the center's newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by presenting STS-134 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need to apply for credentials only at the center.

The application deadline for mission badges is April 7. International journalists should contact Johnson before April 7 to ensure all necessary paperwork and identification are submitted by the deadline.

Journalists covering the mission from Houston using Kennedy credentials must also contact Johnson's newsroom by April 7 to arrange workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at NASA's White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, Johnson will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Notice for a shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could travel quickly to Dryden.

Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are March 24 for international journalists and April 27 for U.S. citizens or journalists who have permanent residency status, regardless of their media affiliation.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens representing bona fide media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of the issuing state and the last six digits of their social security number.

In addition, international journalists must provide either their passport or visa number, country of issue and expiration date.

Journalists should e-mail requests to: DrydenPAO@nasa.gov.

Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468, allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Johnson Space Center: Kylie Clem, 281-483-5111, kylie.s.clem@nasa.gov

Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893, leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

For information about the International Space Station, visit http://www.nasa.gov/station.

For information about the STS-134 mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle.

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