Boeing to Launch NASA’s IMAGE Observatory on March 25

A Boeing
Delta II rocket is poised to lift a NASA imaging satellite into orbit to help
scientists understand the sun’s activity and its effect on satellites and
astronauts in orbit and communications and power systems on Earth.

Scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 12:34 p.m.
PST March 25, the Delta II will boost NASA’s Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora
Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit around
the Earth’s poles.
There will be an eight-minute window of opportunity for
the launch.

During a two-year NASA-led mission, scientists will use IMAGE to gather
remotely sensed images of the planet’s magnetic field and how it changes in
response to the sun’s magnetic activity.

“IMAGE is the first scientific mission of the century for Delta rockets,”
said Darryl Van Dorn, Boeing director of commercial and NASA Delta programs.
“The IMAGE mission is a continuation of a 39-year partnership with NASA,” he
noted.
Delta rockets have carried 82 scientific and technology development
payloads into orbit or beyond.

The principal investigator for the IMAGE mission, Southwest Research
Institute, contracted Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space to build the
spacecraft.

                   MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR THE IMAGE LAUNCH

    News media desiring accreditation for the launch of IMAGE should fax a
request on news organization letterhead to:
    Bruce Buckingham
    C/O NASA Vandenberg Resident Office
    Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
    FAX: (805) 605-3380

Access badges will be issued upon entry to Vandenberg Air Force Base
(VAFB) and will be valid for the prelaunch news conference on L-1 day and for
launch day.
For further information on launch accreditation, call
(321) 867-2468.
Beginning March 8, call the NASA IMAGE 7 News Center at VAFB
(805) 605-3051.

PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE FOR IMAGE

A pre-launch news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. PST, March 24 in the
main conference room of the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office, Building 840,
Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Media covering the pre-launch news conference
should meet at the south gate of VAFB on California State Road 246 at 10:45
a.m. PST.
NASA Television will cover the event beginning at 11 a.m. PST.

REMOTE CAMERA SETUP FOR IMAGE

Media desiring to setup sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad
will depart under escort from the south gate of VAFB at 12:30 a.m. PST on
March 24.

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE FOR IMAGE

Media covering the launch should be at the VAFB main gate at 11 a.m. PST
for escort to the viewing site.

NASA TELEVISION, V-CIRCUIT FOR IMAGE

On launch day, countdown coverage will begin at 11 a.m. PST, continuing
through spacecraft separation approximately 56 minutes later.
NASA Television
is available on GE-2, transponder 9C, located at 85 degrees West longitude.
Audio only will be available on the V circuits by dialing (407) 867-1220,
-1240, -1260, -7135, -4003, -4920.