George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center 407/867-2468 Jim Sahli Goddard Space Flight Center 301/286-0697 Barron Beneski Orbital Sciences 703/406-5527 Release No. 96-056 NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS: FAST SPACECRAFT TO BE LAUNCHED ABOARD PEGASUS XL AUG. 18 The launch of NASA s Fast Auroral Snapshot (FAST) Explorer spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL vehicle is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18 during a window which extends from 2:42:36 - 2:50:46 a.m. PDT. The drop of the Pegasus from the L-1011 aircraft is targeted to occur in the middle of the launch window at 2:46 a.m. PDT over the Pacific Ocean approximately 60 miles offshore from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The FAST spacecraft will probe the physical processes that produce auroras or the northern and southern lights and add significantly to our understanding of the near-earth space environment and its effect. The mission science briefing and the prelaunch news conference to be carried live on NASA Television is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. PDT in the conference room of the NASA-KSC Resident Office at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Two-way question and answer capability will be available from other NASA facilities. -2- Participating in the mission science briefing will be: - Dr. Rob Pfaff, FAST Project Scientist Goddard Space Flight Center - Dr. Charles Carlson, FAST Principal Investigator University of California at Berkeley To follow immediately will be the prelaunch news conference. Participating will be: - Floyd Curington, NASA Launch Manager, Kennedy Space Center - Don Miller, Pegasus Launch Vehicle Manager, Goddard Space Flight Center - J.R. Thompson, General Manager, Launch Systems Group Orbital Sciences Corporation - Jim Watzin, FAST Mission Director/Manager, Small Explorer Project Goddard Space Flight Center - Lt. Tamara Parsons, Launch Weather Officer USAF 30th Weather Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base Media desiring to cover the prelaunch news conference and mission science briefing should meet at the south gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base on California State Road 246 at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16 for escort to the NASA-KSC Vandenberg Resident Office. ACCREDITATION Media desiring accreditation information should contact the Air Force at: Public Affairs Office Vandenberg Air Force Base Telephone: 805/734-8232, Ext. 6-3595 FAX: 805/734-8232, Ext. 6-8303 E-mail: pubaffairs@plans.vafb.af.mil Pegasus/FAST access badges will be issued upon entry to Vandenberg Air Force Base. These badges are valid for the mission science briefing, the prelaunch news conference on Aug. 16 and for access to cover the launch on Aug. 18. - more - -3- LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE On launch day, media representatives should meet at the Vandenberg main gate at 1:15 a.m. to be escorted to the runway for the take-off of the L- 1011. After departure, media will be taken to the viewing room of the NASA Mission Director s Center located at Building 840 on South Vandenberg Air Force Base. From there, media may follow the deployment and launch of Pegasus/FAST. Assuming a nominal flight of the Pegasus 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/FAST Because countdown and launch occurs in darkness there will be no live coverage on NASA Television. However, live launch commentary and audio of all Pegasus/FAST briefings will be available on the V audio circuits which may be dialed at 407/867-1220, 407/867-1240 or 407/867-1260. The schedule is: Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. PDT: Pegasus/FAST mission science briefing and prelaunch news conference live on NASA Television Aug. 18 at 1:30 a.m. PDT: launch commentary begins prior to L-1011 departure and concludes after spacecraft separation approximately 90 minutes later (audio only) Aug. 18 at 12:00 p.m. PDT: NASA TV replay of launch countdown highlights. NASA Television is available on Spacenet 2, Transponder 5, channel 9 located at 69 degrees West longitude. PEGASUS/FAST NEWS CENTER The Pegasus/FAST News Center at the NASA-KSC Vandenberg Resident Office will be staffed starting three days before launch, Aug. 15, and may be reached between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PDT at 805/734-8232, Ext. 5-3051. A recorded status report will also be available beginning on L-3 days by dialing 805/734-8232, Ext. 5-3456.