NASA Reschedules DART Spacecraft Launch
NASA has rescheduled the Demonstration of Autonomous
Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft launch for Tuesday,
Nov. 9, 2004, from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif.
The seven-minute launch window opens at 1:07:40 p.m. EST.
DART, launched onboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket,
provides a key step in establishing autonomous rendezvous
capabilities in support of the U.S. space program’s Vision
for Space Exploration. While astronauts have piloted previous
rendezvous and docking efforts, the unmanned DART spacecraft
has only computers and sensors to perform all of its
rendezvous functions.
Launch coverage on NASA TV begins Tuesday at noon EST. NASA
TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the
continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72
degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio
is monaural at 6.80 MHz. For NASA TV information and
schedules on the Internet, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
The NASA News Center for DART is at VAFB. It opens Monday
morning and may be reached at: 805/605-3051.
For information about NASA, DART, and other agency programs
on the Web, visit:
