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NASA Sets Media Events for OCO-2 Launch from California

Note: NASA has added a media and social media event to the activities at the OCO-2 launch site for Monday, June 30. From 12:30-2 p.m. EDT (9:30-11 a.m. PDT) in NASA Building 836 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, NASA will host a live broadcast featuring interactive discussions including an OCO-2 mission overview, launch details, and an engineering and science panel. The event will be broadcast live on NASA TV and streamed on NASA.gov. Following the event, registered media and social media will be given a tour showcasing launch preparations and facilities at Vandenberg.

The launch of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission (OCO-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 1. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket is targeted for 5:56 a.m. EDT (2:56 a.m. PDT) at the opening of a 30-second launch window.

OCO-2 is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon dioxide, the leading human-produced greenhouse gas driving changes in Earth’s climate. OCO-2 will provide a new tool for understanding the human and natural sources of carbon dioxide emissions and the natural “sinks” that absorb carbon dioxide and help control its buildup.

The OCO-2 and Delta II News Center at the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office will open Thursday, June 26. To speak with a NASA communications specialist, call 805-605-3051 beginning at that time. A recorded launch status report also will be available by dialing 805-734-2693.

Prelaunch and launch activities will take place June 29 through July 1. U.S. journalists should fax their accreditation requests on news organization letterhead to Tech Sgt. Vincent Mouzon, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg, at
805-606-4571, or email vincent.mouzon@us.af.mil. Information required must include full legal name, date of birth and media affiliation. A legal photo identification will be required upon arrival at Vandenberg.
        
A prelaunch news conference and mission briefing will be held from 7-9 p.m. EDT (4-6 p.m. PDT) Sunday, June 29 in the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office. The briefings will be carried live on NASA Television and streamed on NASA.gov. Media also can post questions via Twitter by using the hashtag #AskNASA during the briefings. 

On launch day, NASA TV coverage and countdown commentary will begin at 3:45 a.m. EDT (12:45 a.m. PDT). Spacecraft separation from the rocket occurs 56 minutes 15 seconds after launch.  A post-launch news conference with OCO-2 mission officials will be held approximately two-and-a-half hours after launch.

Live countdown coverage also will be available online. Launch updates will begin on NASA’s launch blog at 3:45 a.m. EDT (12:45 a.m. PDT). Coverage features real-time updates of countdown milestones, as well as streaming video clips highlighting launch preparations and liftoff. To view the launch blog, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/oco2

For NASA TV downlink and schedule information and streaming video, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California is responsible for project management of OCO-2. Orbital Sciences Corp. built the OCO-2 spacecraft. NASA’s Launch Services Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida provides launch management. United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colorado, is NASA’s launch service provider for the Delta II rocket.

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Steve Cole
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0918
stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
Alan Buis
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-0474
alan.buis@jpl.nasa.gov