Mission STS-101 Events, KSC News Center Operating Hours Set

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

KSC Release No. 38-00

Notice to Editors/News Directors:

News conferences, events and operating hours for KSC’s News Center have been set for the April 24 launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Mission STS-101, the 98th launch in the Shuttle program. Launch on April 24 is set for about 4:15 p.m. at the opening of a five-minute window. The conferences and events will be carried live on NASA Television unless otherwise noted, and originate from the KSC Press Site.

The seven-member STS-101 crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC on Friday, April 21 at about 3 p.m. EDT. News media representatives planning to cover the event must be at the News Center by 2 p.m. (in the event of a possible early crew arrival) for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility.

News media representatives with proper authorization may obtain STS-101 mission credentials at the Pass and Identification Building on State Road 3 (south of KSC) on Merritt Island during published times. (Credential and badging hours are listed below.)

In addition to daily 9 a.m. countdown status briefings, an International Space Station briefing and pre-launch press conference will be held two days before launch. The full briefing schedule is listed below.

STS-101 BRIEFING & EVENTS SCHEDULE (all times are EDT)
(All briefings are held inside the KSC Press Site auditorium and will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted)

L-3 Days – Friday, April 21
(Launch countdown begins at 7 p.m.)

9 a.m. —– Countdown Status Briefing

• Steve Altemus, NASA Test Director
• Richard Kuhns, KSC Payload Manager
• Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer

3 p.m. —– STS-101 Flight Crew Arrival (Live on NASA TV)

L-2 Days – Saturday, April 22

9 a.m. —– Countdown Status Briefing

• Doug Lyons, NASA Test Director
• Richard Kuhns, KSC Payload Manager
• Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer

10 a.m. —– International Space Station Briefing

• Bob Cabana, ISS Manager for International Operations, JSC
• Valeri Alaverdov, First Deputy General Director, Rosaviakosmos
• Alain Dubeau, MSS Project Manager, CSA
• Ian Pryke, Director of ESA Washington Office
• Masaaki Komatsu, Director, NASDA KSC Office

4 p.m. —– Pre-launch News Conference

• Ron Dittemore, Shuttle Program Manager, JSC
• Tommy Holloway, ISS Program Manager, JSC
• Dave King, Director of Shuttle Processing, NASA, Kennedy Space Center
• Captain Clif Stargardt, Staff Meteorologist, 45th Weather Squadron, USAF

L-1 Day – Sunday, April 23

9 a.m. —– Countdown Status Briefing

• Jeff Spaulding, NASA Test Director
• Richard Kuhns, KSC Payload Manager
• Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer

L-0 Day – Monday, April 24

(Tanking begins at about 7 a.m. Monday)

10 a.m. —– NASA Television live launch programming begins

Launch Day Crew activities:
3:15 a.m. ——– Wake up
3:45 a.m. ——– Breakfast
9 a.m. ———— Lunch
*11:17 a.m. —– Snack (Crew Photo)
11:47 a.m. —— Weather briefing
*12:05 p.m. —– Suit up photo
*12:27 p.m. —– Walkout/depart for pad
*12:57 p.m. —– Arrive at pad
*2:12 p.m. —— Close hatch

*4:15 p.m. — Launch of Atlantis
(* Carried live on NASA TV)

Launch + 1 hour —– Post-launch Press Conference

• Bill Gerstenmaier, Launch Integration Manager, JSC
• Dave King, Director of Shuttle Processing, KSC

NOTE: STS-101 MISSION STATUS BRIEFINGS WILL BE HELD DAILY THROUGHOUT THE MISSION. TIMES OF THESE BRIEFINGS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NASA TV SCHEDULE AT: http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/schedule.html

KSC News Center office hours for STS-101
(Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and timelines.)

Friday, April 21 (Launch minus 3 days) — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 (Launch minus 2 days) — 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, April 23 (Launch minus 1 day) — 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Monday, April 24 (Launch Day) Flight day 1 — 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tues.- Fri., April 25-28 – Flight days 2/5 — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Sat./Sun., April 29-30 – Flight days 6/7 — TBD

Mon.-Wed., May 1-3 – Flight days 8/10— 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4 (Landing day) Flight day 11 — 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

News media may obtain STS-101 mission credentials at the Pass and Identification Building at Gate 2 on State Road 3, Merritt Island, during the following times:

Pass and Identification Hours

L-3 / Friday, April 21 — 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

L-2 / Saturday, April 22 — 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

L-1 / Sunday, April 23 — CLOSED (call 321-867-2468)

L-0 / Monday, April 24 — 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

News media with annual Shuttle credentials are reminded to sign the logbook at the query counter in the News Center.

NEWS MEDIA ARE REQUIRED TO BE UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS ESCORT AT ALL TIMES WHILE AT KSC EXCEPT WHEN DRIVING TO THE NEWS CENTER OR THE COMPLEX 39 CAFETERIA.

NEWS MEDIA ARE ALLOWED AT THE PRESS SITE ONLY WHEN PUBLIC AFFAIRS PERSONNEL ARE ON DUTY AND THE NASA NEWS CENTER IS OPEN.