LONGUEUIL, February 15, 2006 -- Space Shuttle Discovery is presently
scheduled for launch between May 3 and 22, 2006 from the Kennedy Space Center
in Florida. To ensure the safety of mission STS-121, the team will again call
upon two key technologies contributed by Canada: the extended inspection boom
developed by MDA and the laser camera built by Neptec. The Canadian Space
Agency will also play an important role when its Mission Control Centre in
Longueuil is used to support robotics operations. Taking part in the mission
will be a team of CSA engineers in Longueuil and at NASA's Johnson Space
Centre Canadian Chief Astronaut Julie Payette will be the Lead CapCom.
ACCREDITATION
Canadian media assigned to this mission can now request the mandatory
accreditation from NASA. Media representatives must work for legitimate media
organizations whose existence can be verified. Media covering the mission will
be asked to present their accreditation at a number of NASA sites.
Kennedy Space Centre (KSC)
Media representatives who wish to obtain KSC accreditation should submit
their request through the Web at https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
All media must apply by the April 7 deadline. In late April, accredited
media may attend a rehearsal of the launch (Terminal Countdown Demonstration
Test) and all other Discovery mission events. Media must use business, not
personal, e-mail addresses when applying for accreditation. Processing of the
request takes about three weeks. Once accreditation is approved, media will
receive confirmation via e-mail. Badges will be available for pick-up
beginning April 21.
Media with special logistic requests, such as space for trailers,
electrical connections or workstations in the newsroom, must contact Laurel
Lichtenberger, at laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov by April 7.
Workstations are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. To set up
temporary telephone, fax, ISDN, or network lines, media must make arrangements
with Bell South, at (800) 213 4988. Media must have an assigned seat in the
Kennedy newsroom prior to setting up lines. Media are required to have a
public affairs escort to visit any area at KSC, except the Launch Complex 39
cafeteria.
KSC credentials will be honoured during the STS-121 mission at NASA's
Johnson Space Center, Houston, and at the Dryden Flight Research Center,
Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Media may either present Kennedy STS-121 mission credentials or obtain
specific accreditation for JSC by calling the Center's newsroom at
(281) 483-5111. Media planning to cover the mission only from JSC should only
apply at JSC.
The deadline for submitting JSC accreditation requests is April 4 for non-
U.S. media, regardless of citizenship.
Media covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy credentials must
contact the newsroom by April 20 to arrange workspace, phone lines and other
logistics. Johnson is responsible for media accreditation if the shuttle lands
at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. If a landing is imminent at White
Sands, credentials will be arranged.
Dryden Flight Research Center
The shuttle might land on short notice at Dryden. Media should consider
accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could quickly travel to Dryden.
Submit requests for accreditation to Dryden Public Affairs by March 24
for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship.
Canadian media representatives, regardless of citizenship, must furnish
the following information: full name, date of birth, place of birth, media
organization, the last six digits of the social security number and driver's
license number, citizenship, visa or passport number, expiration date, and
alien registration number (if applicable).
Please fax requests for Dryden accreditation on company letterhead to
(661) 276 3566. Note that e-mail requests to pao@dfrc.nasa.gov are only
acceptable for media who have been to Dryden within the past year. Requests
must include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact.
No substitution of non-accredited media is permitted.
For information about the STS-121 mission and crew, visit:
www.nasa.gov/shuttle.
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For further information:
Julie Simard
Media Relations
Tel.: (450) 926-4370
E-mail: Julie.simard@space.gc.ca
