Nov. 4, 2004

Michael Braukus 
Headquarters, Washington 
(Phone: 202/358-1979)

MEDIA ADVISORY: M04-176

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 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: 

http://www.nasa.gov 

	
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