NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery on its Rollout to the Pad

By Deepika Mala

TMCnet Contributor

 

Journalists are invited to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center based in Florida, to cover the STS-131 space shuttle crew’s practice countdown and related training March 2-5.

 

In addition, the reporters may also cover NASA’s space shuttle Discovery’s rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A on March 2.

 

Discovery’s first motion on its rollout to the pad, atop of a giant crawler-transporter, is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EST. The journey of 3.4-mile is expected to take approximately six hours.

 

The various activities include a 6:30 a.m. photo opportunity, followed by an 8:30 a.m. interview availability with Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson. The reporters, in order to cover the activities and also for transportation to the viewing area, must arrive at Kennedy’s news center by 6 a.m.

 

The live coverage of the move will be shown on NASA Television beginning at 6:30 a.m and on the NASA TV Video File, the video highlights will be aired.  

 

Discovery’s astronauts and ground crews from March 2, will participate in a launch dress rehearsal, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT.

 

Each shuttle crew, through the test is provided with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training.

 

The following media events are associated with the TCDT. All times are Eastern.

 

·                     March 1 -- STS-131 crew arrival: The crew will arrive about 7 p.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The arrival will be carried live on NASA TV. Reporters must be at the Kennedy press site at 5:45 p.m. to attend arrival.

·                     March 4 -- STS-131 crew media availability: The crew will take questions from journalists at Launch Pad 39A at 8:40 a.m. The event will be carried live on NASA TV. Media representatives must arrive at the press site by 7:15 a.m. to participate.

·                     March 5 -- STS-131 crew walkout photo opportunity: The astronauts will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a.m. in their flight suits in preparation for the countdown demonstration test at the launch pad. The walkout will not be broadcast live but will be part of the NASA TV Video File. Reporters must arrive at the press site by 6:15 a.m. to attend walkout.

 

Badges for the events can be picked up Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on State Road 405.

 

The crew members of Discovery’s STS-131 are Commander Alan Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton, Jr., Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki and Clayton Anderson. The seven astronauts will deliver science racks to be transferred to laboratories on the International Space Station. The launch of the space shuttle is targeted for 6:27 a.m. EDT on April 5.

 

In related news, the U.S. space agency has awarded its 2009 Software of the Year award to engineers at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California.