JASON/TIME 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 – 7:18 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 like El Nino. The project is managed by the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory 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 – 110 miles (60 – 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.
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
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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 NASA field centers including Kennedy Space Center,
Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA
Headquarters.
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 STS-108 and
Jason/TIMED. 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 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.
