NASA’s AURA Satellite Ready for July 10 Launch on Delta II Rocket
NASA’s Aura spacecraft, a next-generation Earth-
observing satellite that will supply the most complete
information to date on the health of the Earth’s atmosphere,
is scheduled for launch Saturday, July 10. Liftoff will occur
aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket at approximately 6:01:57 a.m.
EDT (3:01:57 a.m. PDT) at the opening of a three-minute
launch window. Spacecraft separation from the launch vehicle
will occur one hour and four minutes later. Launch will be
from NASA’s Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force
Base (VAFB), Calif.
ACCREDITATION
News media desiring accreditation for the Aura launch should
fax their request on news organization letterhead to:
30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Attention: Lt. Michelle Mayo
FAX: 805/606-8303
(Phone: 805/606-3595)
PRELAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE
The Aura prelaunch press conference will be held at 3 p.m.
EDT (noon PDT) on Thursday, July 8, in the main conference
room of the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office, Building 840,
VAFB. Mission experts will be available to discuss the
science and engineering aspects of the mission, as well as
international participation.
Two-way question and answer capability will be available from
NASA Headquarters and participating NASA centers. Media
desiring to cover the prelaunch press conference should meet
at the south gate of VAFB on California State Road 246 at
11:30 a.m. local time. They will be escorted to the NASA
Vandenberg Resident Office.
WEB PRELAUNCH AND LAUNCH COVERAGE
A special live prelaunch webcast is scheduled for July 8 at
5:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 p.m. PDT). For more information, go to
the NASA Direct! Web site at:
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/index.htm
NASA Television launch coverage will be webcast at:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
Live informational updates and post-event video will be
available through Kennedy Space Center’s Virtual Launch
Control Center at:
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/Aura/vlcc.htm
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 VAFB will be at 1:15 p.m. local time July
8.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AT SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2
There will be an opportunity to photograph the Boeing Delta
II rocket at the pad after the service tower has been
retracted from around the launch vehicle. Media wishing to go
to the pad for this event should be at the main gate of VAFB
on Friday, July 9, at 6 p.m. PDT.
LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE
On launch day media covering the Aura launch should be at the
main gate of VAFB at 2 a.m. PDT to be escorted to the press
site on north VAFB. After launch, media will be escorted back
to the main gate. Media desiring interviews will be escorted
to NASA Building 840. Launch and mission officials will be
available after spacecraft separation, approximately one hour
after launch.
NASA TELEVISION, VOICE (“V” CIRCUIT) COVERAGE
The prelaunch press conference will be carried at 3 p.m. EDT
(noon PDT) Thursday, July 8. Remote question and answer
capability from NASA field centers will be available. On
launch day programming on NASA Television will begin at 4
a.m. EDT (1 a.m. PDT) with the start of cryogenic fueling of
the Delta II. NASA Television is carried on AMC 9,
transponder 9C, at 85 degrees west longitude. Audio only for
the news media will be available on the “V” circuits that can
be reached by dialing 321/867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135.
AURA NEWS CENTER
The Aura News Center at the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office
will be staffed beginning July 8, and can be reached at
805/605-3051. A recorded launch status will be available
starting on Thursday, July 1, by dialing 805/734-2693. The
U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg Air Force
Base can be reached at 805/606-3595.
