Note to Editors/News Directors: Mission STS-102 Events, News Center Operating Hours Set
News conferences, events and operating hours for KSC’s News Center have been
set for the March 8 launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission
STS-102, the 103rd launch in the Shuttle program. The preferred launch time
on March 8 is about 6:42 a.m. EST at the opening of a window that extends
for about 5 minutes. The news conferences and events listed below will be
carried live on NASA Television (unless otherwise noted) and originate from
the KSC Press Site.
The four-member STS-102 crew and the three-member expedition two crew will
arrive at KSC on Sunday, March 4, at about 11 p.m. EST. News media
representatives planning to cover the event must be at the KSC News Center
by 10 p.m. (in the event of a possible early crew arrival) for
transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. On launch day, the crew will
depart their KSC living quarters and be driven to the launch pad at about
2:55 a.m. Media interested in attending this event should be at the News
Center no later than 2 a.m.
In addition to daily 9 a.m. countdown status briefings, a prelaunch press
conference will be held two days before launch. The full briefing schedule
is listed below.
News media representatives with proper authorization may obtain STS-102
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.
The KSC codaphone will be updated with daily status reports at 321-867-2525.
— end of general release —
STS-102 BRIEFINGS & 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-4 Days – Sunday, March 4
11 p.m. —– STS-102 Flight Crew Arrival (Live on NASA TV)
L-3 Days – Monday, March 5
9 a.m. —— Countdown Status Briefing
Jeff Spaulding, NASA Test Director
Glenn Chin, Leonardo Payload Manager
Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer
(Launch countdown begins at 10:00 a.m.)
L-2 Days – Tuesday, March 6
9 a.m. —— Countdown Status Briefing
Pete Nickolenko, NASA Test Director
Glenn Chin, Leonardo Payload Manager
Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer
4 p.m. —– Prelaunch News Conference
Ron Dittemore, Shuttle Program Manager, NASA, JSC
Tommy Holloway, ISS Program Manager, NASA, JSC
Dr. Silvana Rabbia, MPLM Program Manager, Italian Space Agency
Dave King, Director of Shuttle Processing, NASA, KSC
Captain Clif Stargardt, Staff Meteorologist, 45th Weather Squadron, USAF
L-1 Day – Wednesday, March 7
No briefings scheduled
(Tanking begins at about 9:45 p.m.)
L-0 Day – Thursday, March 8
1:30 a.m. —– NASA Television live launch programming begins
Launch Day Crew activities:
6:30 p.m. (Wednesday) ———Wake up
7:00 p.m. (Wednesday) ———Breakfast
11:00 p.m. (Wednesday) ———Lunch
*1:45 a.m. ——–Crew Photo
2:15 a.m. ———Weather briefing
*2:35 a.m. ——Suit up photo
*2:55 a.m. —– Walkout/depart for pad
*3:25 a.m. —– Arrive at pad
*4:40 a.m. ——Close hatch
*6:42 a.m. ——–Launch of Discovery
(* Carried live on NASA TV)
*7:45 a.m. —– Post-launch Press Conference
Jim Halsell, Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager, KSC
Mike Leinbach, Shuttle Launch Director, KSC
KSC News Center office hours for STS-102
(Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and
timelines.)
Sunday, March 4 9 p.m. – 12 midnight
Monday, March 5 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 7 8 a.m. – round-the-clock
Thursday, March 8 (Launch day) – until 4:30 p.m.
[FOR MISSION DAY SCHEDULES SEE NOTE BELOW]
Tuesday, March 20 (Landing day) 10 p.m. (Monday) – 4:30 p.m. (Tuesday)
NOTE: The KSC News Center will support media questions for overnight and
weekend STS-102 Mission Status Briefings and the in-flight crew news
conference. Media interested in attending the briefings that occur after
normal office hours (8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday), MUST make their
intentions known to the KSC News Room at least 24-hours in advance, in order
to secure proper access to the press site. Times of these briefings are
available in the NASA TV schedule at:
http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/schedule.html
Pass and Identification Hours
Monday, March 5 ————————– 12 noon – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 6 ————————– 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday/Thursday, March 7/8 — 12 noon —- 5:30 a.m. (Launch day)
News media may obtain STS-102 mission credentials at the Pass and
Identification Building at Gate 2 on State Road 3, Merritt Island, during
the above published times.
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 THE KSC NEWS CENTER IS
OPEN.
