Pegasus/SORCE Press Opportunity to be held at KSC on Wednesday Jan. 15

The NASA-sponsored Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE)
spacecraft, to be launched on Jan. 25, will be featured in a news media
opportunity on Wednesday, Jan. 15. SORCE will be seen mated to the Orbital
Sciences Pegasus rocket during the activities to encapsulate the satellite
into the vehicle fairing.

SORCE will provide state-of-the-art measurements of incoming x-ray,
ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and total solar radiation. The
measurements provided by SORCE address long-term climate change, climate
prediction, atmospheric ozone and ultraviolet-B radiation. These
measurements are critical to studies of the Sun, its effect on our Earth
system and influence on humankind.

The SORCE project is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the
spacecraft built by the Orbital Sciences Space Systems Group, and the
instruments built by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
(LASP).

For this event, standard clean room protocol will be observed. Those
planning to attend are requested to wear long pants. Shorts or tank tops are
not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are also required. Clean room attire (bunny
suits) will be furnished. Quality control personnel may request cleaning of
photographic equipment with alcohol wipes that will be provided. No suede,
leather or vinyl attire or accessories are permitted. Please do not wear
perfume, cologne or makeup. No graphite pencils, food, tobacco, lighters,
matches, or pocket knives will be permitted inside the clean room. Because
of the solid propellant of the Pegasus launch vehicle, no cellular
telephones, pagers, wireless microphones, or two-way radios can be allowed
inside the MPPF.

Electronic flash photography is permitted. The lighting in the facility
with the Pegasus rocket is high-pressure sodium (orange). Within the clean
enclosure that surrounds the spacecraft on the nose of the Pegasus, the
lighting is standard florescent.

Spokespeople from Orbital Sciences and LASP will be available to discuss the
SORCE spacecraft and Pegasus launch vehicle, answer questions and be
available for interviews.

Those needing accreditation should contact the NASA News Center at
321/867-2468 by the close of business Tuesday, Jan 14.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, media should be at the NASA News Center at the KSC
Press Site at 10:30 a.m. Media will be returned to the press site by 12:30
p.m.

SORCE is scheduled for launch aboard the Pegasus rocket on Jan. 25, 2003,
during a launch window that extends from 3:10 – 4:08 p.m. EST. Pegasus
deployment will occur over the Atlantic Ocean from the Orbital Sciences
L-1011 carrier aircraft.