Jason/TIMED Ready for Launch on Delta II Rocket Dec. 7

The launch of the Jason 1 and Timed satellites aboard a
Boeing Delta II rocket is scheduled to occur on Friday, Dec. 7
from NASA’s Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force
Base, Calif. The 20-minute launch window extends from 6:58 to
7:18 a.m. PST. The target launch time is 7:07 a.m. PST.

Jason 1 is a joint U.S./French oceanography mission. The
spacecraft will build on the heritage of the venerable
Topex/Poseidon satellite in continuing observations of the
global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the
atmosphere. Jason 1 will monitor world ocean circulation,
study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve
climate predictions and observe events such as El Nino. The
project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif., for NASA and the French space agency.

NASA’s Timed spacecraft will conduct the first global
study of a critical region of Earth’s atmosphere, known as the
mesosphere, lower thermosphere and ionosphere. The two-year
mission will study the influences of the sun as well as humans
on this least explored and understood region located between
40 to 110 miles (60 to 180 kilometers) above the Earth’s
surface. Data provided by Timed will improve our
understanding of this “gateway region” and its effects on
satellites, communications, and spacecraft re-entering the
Earth’s atmosphere. Timed is a NASA satellite managed by the
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

ACCREDITATION

U.S. news media desiring accreditation for the launch of
Jason/Timed should fax their request on news organization
letterhead to:

NASA Vandenberg Resident Office

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Attention: George Diller

FAX: (805) 605-3380

Foreign news media requesting accreditation must also fax
a request not later than Nov. 30 to:

30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Attention: Master Sgt. Lloyd Conley

FAX: (805) 606-8303

For further information on NASA launch accreditation
procedures call (321) 867-2468. For foreign media, call the
30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office at (805) 606-3595.

PRELAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE

The Jason/Timed prelaunch press conference will be held
on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. PST in the main conference
room of the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office, Building 840,
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Participants will be:

Chuck Dovale, NASA Launch Manager

Kennedy Space Center

Joy Bryant, Delta II Mission Director

The Boeing Company

Bruce Campbell, Timed Project Manager

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Gary Kuntsmann, Jason 1 Project Manager

JPL

The launch weather officer from the 30th Weather Squadron
at Vandenberg Air Force Base will also participate. Two-way
question and answer capability will be available from JPL and
other NASA field centers.

Media desiring to cover the prelaunch press conference
should meet at the south gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base on
California State Road 246 at 10:30 a.m. They will be escorted
to the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office.

REMOTE CAMERAS

Following the prelaunch press conference, media desiring
to establish sound-activated remote cameras at the launch pad
will be escorted to Space Launch Complex 2. Departure from the
south gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base on California State
Road 246 will be at noon on Thursday, Dec. 6.

TOWER ROLLBACK PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

The night before launch, Dec. 6, there will be a photo
opportunity at Space Launch Complex 2 for news media to
witness rollback of the mobile service tower from around the
Delta II launch vehicle.

Media desiring to participate should so indicate in their
request for accreditation since attendance is limited for
security and safety reasons.

Those attending should be at the Vandenberg Air Force
Base main gate at 9 p.m.

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE

On launch day, Dec. 7, media covering the launch of
Jason/Timed should be at the main gate located on California
State Road 1 at 5:30 a.m. to be escorted to the press site
located on north Vandenberg Air Force Base. After launch,
media will be escorted back to the main gate. A post-launch
press conference will not be held.

NASA TELEVISION, VOICE “V” CIRCUIT COVERAGE, WEBCAST

NASA Television is being coordinated for coverage of
shuttle mission STS-108 and the Jason/Timed launch. The
prelaunch news conference will be carried starting at 11 a.m.
PST on Thursday, Dec. 6. On launch day, Dec. 7, NASA TV
coverage of the countdown will begin at 5:50 a.m. PST
following STS-108 astronaut wake-up activities. Coverage will
conclude after Jason/Timed spacecraft separation events have
occurred. During the extended coast phase between the
separation of Jason and Timed, STS-108 on-orbit activities
will be covered during a 45-minute interim period.

NASA Television is carried on GE-2, transponder 9C
located at 85 degrees West longitude. Audio only will be
available on the “V” circuits that may be reached by dialing
(321) 867-1220, 1240, 1260, or 7135.

A Webcast of the launch will also be available through
JPL at www.jpl.nasa.gov/jason or on the NASA Kennedy Space
Center home page at www.ksc.nasa.gov .

The Jason/Timed News Center at the NASA Vandenberg
Resident Office will be staffed beginning Tuesday, Dec. 4, and
may be reached at (805) 605-3051. A recorded status report
will also be available starting at that time by dialing (805)
734-2693.