NASA's Shuttle Atlantis Moves to Launch Pad, Practice Liftoff Set
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Reporters are invited to cover space shuttle
Atlantis' move to the launch pad on Oct. 13 and the STS-129 mission
crew's dress rehearsal activities Oct. 19 to Oct. 21 at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Atlantis is targeted to launch to the International Space Station Nov.
12 on an 11-day cargo flight.
Atlantis was moved from its hangar on Tuesday to Kennedy's Vehicle
Assembly Building. There it will be attached to its external fuel
tank and two solid rocket boosters before its move next week to
Launch Pad 39A.
The first motion of Atlantis from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the
pad is targeted for 12:01 a.m. EDT on Oct. 13. The 3.4 mile journey
is expected to take approximately six hours. Activities include a
6:30 a.m. photo opportunity of the shuttle's move and an interview
availability with Atlantis Flow Director Angie Brewer at 7:45 a.m.
Reporters must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 6 a.m. for
transportation to the viewing area.
Live video coverage of the move will be shown on NASA Television
starting at 6:30 a.m. Video highlights of the move will air on NASA
TV's Video File.
International media accreditation for these events is closed. U.S.
reporters without permanent Kennedy credentials must apply for
accreditation online by 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Badges must be picked up before 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, at the
Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on State Road 405.
Atlantis' astronauts and ground crews will participate in the practice
countdown, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test. The
test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity to participate in
various simulated countdown activities, including equipment
familiarization and emergency training.
Times for terminal countdown demonstration test activities still are
being finalized. Activities available for press coverage will
include:
- Oct. 19: STS-129 crew arrival. The astronauts will arrive in Shuttle
Training Aircraft and T-38 jets at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing
Facility. Crew arrival will be broadcast live on NASA TV.
- Oct. 20: Crew media availability. The crew will take questions from
reporters at Launch Pad 39A. The session will be carried live on NASA
TV.
- Oct. 21: Crew walkout photo opportunity. The astronauts will depart
from the Operations and Checkout Building in their flight entry suits
in preparation for the countdown demonstration test at the launch
pad. The walkout will not be broadcast live but will air on NASA TV's
Video File.
Updates with times for all events will be available by calling
321-867-2525.
For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about the STS-129 mission and crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
