NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

RELEASE : 68-03 SCISAT Spacecraft To Be Launched On Pegasus XL August 12 The launch of the Canadian Space Agency's SCISAT-1 (Scientific Satellite Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL vehicle is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12, during a window which extends from 7:05 - 8:02 p.m. PDT. The drop of the Pegasus from the L-1011 carrier aircraft is targeted to occur inside of the launch window at 7:10 p.m. PDT at a location over the Pacific Ocean approximately 100 miles offshore from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.  The 330-pound SCISAT-1 spacecraft will be placed in a 400-mile-high polar orbit at an inclination of 73.9 degrees.
 
The SCISAT-1 spacecraft will investigate processes that control the distribution of ozone in the upper atmosphere. The purpose of the mission is to measure and understand the chemical processes that control the distribution of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly at high altitudes. The data from the satellite will provide Canadian and international scientists with improved measurements relating to global ozone processes and help policymakers assess existing environmental policy and develop protective measurers for improving the health of our atmosphere, preventing further ozone depletion. This mission is designed to last two years.

NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center is responsible for countdown and launch management; Orbital Sciences Corporation is responsible for providing the launch service; and the Canadian Space Agency, along with its contractor Bristol Aerospace, is responsible for the spacecraft development and operations.

PRELAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE

The prelaunch press conference, to be carried live on NASA Television, is scheduled to occur on Monday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. PDT in the conference room of the NASA-KSC Resident Office at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Two-way question and answer capability will be available from NASA Headquarters, Kennedy Space Center and Goddard Space Flight Center.
                                      
Participating in the prelaunch news conference will be:
 
-   Charles Dovale, NASA Launch Director
    Kennedy Space Center
 
-   Bryan Baldwin, Pegasus Launch Vehicle Program Manager
    Orbital Sciences Corporation
 
-   Roger Colley, Director, General Space Science
    Canadian Space Agency
 
-   Peter Bernath, SCISAT Mission Scientist
    University of Waterloo
          
-   Capt. Scott Lisko, Launch Weather Officer
    USAF 30th Weather Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base
           
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 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, for escort to the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office.
 
ACCREDITATION

Media desiring accreditation information should contact the Air Force at:
 
30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Telephone: 805-606-3595
FAX: 805-606-8303
E-mail: 30SW.PA@vandenberg.af.mil

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE
 
On launch day, media representatives should meet at the Vandenberg main gate at 5:30 p.m. to be escorted to the flight line for the take-off of the L-1011.  After departure, media will be taken to the viewing room of the NASA Mission Director’s Center located at Building 840 on South Vandenberg Air Force Base.  From there, media may follow the release and launch of Pegasus/SCISAT.
 
Assuming a nominal flight of the Pegasus launch vehicle, a post-launch news conference will not be held. However, launch vehicle and spacecraft representatives will be available afterward to informally answer questions from the media.
 
NASA TELEVISION AND NASA WEB COVERAGE OF PEGASUS/SCISAT
 
Launch coverage on NASA Television will begin at 5:30 p.m. PDT and continue through spacecraft separation from the Pegasus vehicle.  Live launch commentary and audio of the Pegasus/SCISAT briefing will be available on the “V” audio circuits that may be dialed at 321/867-1220, 1240, 1260 or 7135.

NASA Television is on AMC-2, Transponder 9C located at 85 degrees West longitude. 
 
NASA TV coverage will be simulcast on the web and accessed via the NASA Home Page at:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html.
 
Live informational updates and post-event video will also be available through Kennedy Space Center’s Virtual Launch Control Center at:

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/scisat/index.htm.
 
PEGASUS/SCISAT NEWS CENTER
 
The Pegasus/SCISAT News Center at the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office will be staffed starting on Monday, Aug. 11 and may be reached between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PST at 805-605-3051 or 805-605-3001.  A recorded status report will also be available beginning on L-3 days, Friday, Aug. 8 and may be reached by dialing 805-734-2693.

- end -

---

text-only version of this release

To receive status reports and news releases issued from the Kennedy Space Center Newsroom electronically, send a blank e-mail message to ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail message to ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov. The system will confirm your request via e-mail.