David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, DC
October 21, 1996
(Phone: 202/358-1730)

Keith Koehler
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA (Phone: 757/824-1579)

Janet Chihocky
Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, VA
(Phone: 703/406-5525)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N96-64

SAC-B/HETE SPACECRAFT TO BE LAUNCHED OCTOBER 29 

The launch of the Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC-B) and the High Energy Transient 
Experiment (HETE) spacecraft aboard a Orbital Sciences Corp. Pegasus XL vehicle is scheduled for 
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1996, during a 51-minute window which extends from 11:58 a.m. through 12:49 
p.m. EST. Launch is targeted to occur at 12:20 p.m. EST over the Atlantic Ocean approximately 50 
miles off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. 

SAC-B is an international cooperative project between NASA and Argentina's National Commission 
of Space Activities (CONAE). The satellite is designed to advance the study of solar physics and 
astrophysics through examination of solar flares, gamma ray bursts, diffuse cosmic X-ray background 
and energetic neutral atoms. HETE is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology led mission to study 
gamma-ray bursts. 

SPECIAL MEDIA EVENTS

On Oct. 28 media should meet at the Wallops Visitors Center at 10:30 a.m. to be escorted to the Range 
Control Center. Prior to a noon informal session with mission officials, vans will depart from the 
Range Control Center for a tour from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. by Orbital Sciences Corp. of the L-1011 
aircraft with the Pegasus XL and integrated spacecraft attached. Following the tour, officials will be 
available to discuss the mission. Mission officials participating in the session will include: 

- Floyd Curington, NASA Launch Manager Kennedy Space Center

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- Don Miller, Pegasus Launch Vehicle Manager 
Goddard Space Flight Center
- Jerre Hartman, International Project Manager/Mission Director 
Goddard Space Flight Center
- J.R. Thompson, General Manager, Launch Systems Group 
Orbital Sciences Corporation
- Ted Wilz, Senior Meteorologist
Wallops Flight Facility

ACCREDITATION

Media desiring accreditation information should contact the Wallops Public Affairs Office 757/824-
1584. Foreign press should fax their accreditation request to Jennifer McCarter of Headquarters Public 
Affairs at 202/358-2983. Pegasus/SAC-B/HETE access badges will be issued upon arrival at the 
Media Center at the Wallops Visitor Center and will be valid for activities on L-1 day. Badges also will 
be valid for access to cover launch activities.

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE

On launch day, media representatives should meet at the Wallops Visitor Center at 10 a.m. to be 
escorted to the runway for the take-off of the L-1011 at 11:20 a.m. After
L-1011 departure, media may follow the deployment and launch of the Pegasus/SAC-B/HETE from 
the Wallops Visitor Center. Assuming a nominal flight of the Pegasus XL 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 COVERAGE OF PEGASUS/SAC-B/HETE 

There will be live coverage of the Pegasus launch on NASA Television. October 29	10 a.m. EST
	Replay of science briefing from
Oct. 21.
October 29	11 a.m. EST	Launch commentary begins with L-1011 departure and
concludes after spacecraft deployment approximately 90 minutes later. 

NASA Television is available on Spacenet 2, Transponder 5, Channel 9, located at 69 degrees West 
longitude. 

PEGASUS/SAC-B/HETE MEDIA CENTER

The Pegasus/SAC-B/HETE Media Center at the Wallops Visitor Center will be staffed starting two 
days before launch, October 27 and may be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST at 757/824-1776 
or 824-1147. A recorded status report also will be available beginning on L-4 days by dialing 757/824-
2050.

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