J.D. Harrington
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
Geoffrey Brown
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics
Laboratory, Laurel, Md.
240-228-5618
geoffrey.brown@jhuapl.edu
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Radiation
Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) are set to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance
Atlas V rocket Aug. 23. The 20-minute launch window for the twin probes at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 begins at 4:08 a.m. EDT.
Launch commentary coverage, as well as
prelaunch media briefings, will be carried live on NASA Television and the
agency's website.
RBSP will explore space weather --
changes in Earth's space environment caused by the sun -- that can disable
satellites, create power grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission
also will allow researchers to understand fundamental radiation and particle
acceleration processes throughout the universe.
Prelaunch News Conference
A prelaunch news conference on NASA TV
will be held at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug.
20.
Briefing participants are:
-- Michael Luther, deputy associate
administrator for programs, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington
-- Tim Dunn, NASA launch director,
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
-- Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA
Missions, United Launch Alliance, Denver, Colo.
-- Richard Fitzgerald, RBSP project
manager, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory,
Laurel, Md.
-- Kathy Winters, launch weather
officer, 45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla.
RBSP Mission Science Briefing
Immediately following the prelaunch news
conference, an RBSP mission science briefing will be held and carried on NASA
TV.
Briefing participants are:
-- Mona Kessel, RBSP program scientist,
NASA Headquarters, Washington
-- Nicola Fox, RBSP deputy project
scientist, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
-- Craig Kletzing, principal
investigator, University of Iowa, Electric and Magnetic Field
Instrument Suite and Integrated Science
instrument
-- Harlan Spence, principal
investigator, University of New Hampshire, Energetic Particle,
Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite
instrument, Durham, N.H.
-- Lou Lanzerotti, principal
investigator, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Radiation Belt
Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment,
Newark, N.J.
The science briefing is scheduled to
conclude by 3 p.m.
A post-launch news conference also will
be held approximately 2 1/2 hours after launch on Aug. 23.
Accreditation and Media Access Badges
for Kennedy
U.S. media who want to cover the RBSP
prelaunch news conference and mission science briefing in-person must apply for
credentials online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov/
The deadline for international media to
apply for launch accreditation has passed.
Atlas V Launch Vehicle Rollout
Tuesday, Aug. 21: 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
Tuesday, Aug. 21: Photographers who wish
to set up remote sound-activated cameras at the Atlas V launch pad will
transported to Space Launch Complex 41. Media should meet in the Kennedy Press
Site parking lot at 1:30 p.m. Media also should plan to use a timer that can be
set for more than 24 hours. Only news media representatives establishing a
remote camera at the pad will be permitted for this activity.
Launch Day Press Site Access
Thursday, Aug. 23: Media will cover the
RBSP launch from Kennedy's Press Site. Access will be through Gate 3 on State
Road 405, east of the Kennedy Center Visitor Complex beginning at 12:30 a.m.
Kennedy Press Site Hours
Monday, Aug. 20: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 21: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 22: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 23: 12:30 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
NASA Television Coverage
On Monday, Aug. 20, NASA Television will
carry the RBSP prelaunch news conference and mission science briefing live
beginning at 1 p.m.
On Thursday, Aug. 23, NASA Television
coverage of the launch will begin at 1:30 a.m. and conclude after the second of
the two RBSP spacecraft has separated from the Atlas V, which occurs 91 minutes
and six seconds after launch. Live launch coverage will be carried on all NASA
Television channels.
A post-launch news conference will be
held at Kennedy's Press Site approximately 2 1/2 hours after launch.
Spokespersons also will be available at the Press Site for interviews and to
answer questions.
For NASA Television downlink
information, schedule information and streaming video, visit http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.
A prelaunch webcast for the RBSP mission
will be streamed on NASA's website at noon, Wednesday, Aug. 22. Live countdown
coverage through NASA's Launch Blog begins at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23.
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 Jeanne Ryba at 321-867-7824.
To view the webcast and the blog or to
learn more about the RBSP mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp.
Social Media
Join the conversation online by using
the #RBSP hashtag or by following RBSP on Twitter at @RBStormProbes or on
Facebook at http://on.fb.me/QR9agm.
Throughout the launch countdown, the
@RBStormProbes and @NASAKennedy Twitter feeds will be continuously updated with
the latest mission updates and news.
http://www.twitter.com/RBStormProbes and
http://www.twitter.com/nasakennedy.
Recorded Status
Recorded status reports and updates to
the media advisory on the RBSP launch will be provided through the Kennedy
media phone line starting Monday, Aug. 20. The telephone number is
321-867-2525.
Wireless Capability
Wireless capability for the news media
is available at Kennedy's Press Site.
RBSP is part of NASA's Living with a
Star program, managed by the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Md. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md.,
built the pair of RBSP spacecraft and will manage the mission for NASA. NASA's
Launch Services Program at Kennedy is responsible for launch management. United
Launch Alliance is the provider of the Atlas V launch service.
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