NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NOTE TO EDITORS : N04-164 NASA Announces Dart Launch Schedule NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) spacecraft is scheduled to launch Oct. 26, at 2:13 p.m. EDT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif.

DART will demonstrate key technologies required for spacecraft to rendezvous with other craft, such as satellites, without human intervention. DART will combine key autonomous technologies to actually rendezvous with a target satellite during the mission. It is the first demonstration program selected by NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate to develop technologies for the Vision for Space Exploration.

The prelaunch press conference, with NASA Launch Director Omar Baez, is Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. EDT, in the Building 840 conference room, VAFB. There will be question and answer capability from NASA HQ, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for reporters. Jim Snoddy, DART Project Manager, will present the mission briefing after the press conference.

For press conference access and Mission Operations Center tour, media must meet at the VAFB south gate on California State Road 246 NLT 1:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 25.

For information about VAFB media launch accreditation requirements or installation access, call: 30th Wing Public Affairs Office, VAFB at: 805/606-3595. Media may fax accreditation requests on news organization letterhead at: 805/606-8303. Requests must contain driver's license or passport numbers. Accreditation requests must be received before 3 p.m. EDT, Oct. 25.

NASA TV and Web live coverage of the DART launch begins at 1 p.m. EDT. To listen to launch commentary or the media briefings call: 321/867-1220/1240/1260/7135. Points of contact at NASA centers: Kim Newton, MSFC, 256/544-0034; George Diller, KSC, 321/867-2468.

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 to watch the live launch webcast, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

A special live prelaunch webcast is scheduled on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. EDT. For more information, go to the NASA Direct Web site at:

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/index.htm

Live information updates will be available through the KSC Virtual Launch Control center at:

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mission/vlcc.htm

For information about NASA, DART and other agency programs on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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