ICESat/CHIPSat Launch Retargeted for Saturday, January 11 from Vand

NOTE TO EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS AND WEATHER PERSONALITIES: Please review updated meeting times and locations as listed below.

Given weather and lighting conditions, the possibility exists for viewers to see the "Twilight Phenomena" caused by the Delta II's exhaust/contrail being backlit by the setting Sun after launch throughout California and outlying western states.

Jim Spellman
NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY
Western Spaceport Chapter
Tel/Fax: 760-379-2503
http://www.hometown.aol.com/wspaceport/Welcome.html
http://www.nss.org

NSS LaunchWatch:

ICESAT/CHIPSAT LAUNCH RETARGETED FOR SATURDAY, JAN. 11

VANDENBERG AFB, CA -- The launch of NASA's ICESat (Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite) and CHIPSat (Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer) polar-orbiting spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket is now scheduled for Saturday, January 11 at 4:45 p.m. PST from Vandenberg Air Force Base in northern Santa Barbara County, CA. The possible launch attempt on Friday, January 10 will not be made.

The prelaunch press conference will be held on Friday, January 10 at 11:00 a.m. PST in the conference room of the NASA Resident Office in Building 840 at VAFB. Media wishing to attend should be at the South Vandenberg Air Force Base gate on California State Road 246 at 10:30 a.m. to be escorted to Building 840.

Remote question-and-answer capability will be available at NASA Headquarters, Kennedy Space Center and Goddard Space Flight Center, and televised over the NASA TV channel.

Participants will be:

Chuck Dovale, NASA Launch Director
NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Kris Walsh, Director of NASA Programs
Boeing Expendable Launch Systems

Dr. Waleed Abdalati, Program Executive for Cryospheric Sciences
NASA Headquarters

Dr. Mark Hurwitz, CHIPSat Principal Investigator
University of California at Berkley

Captain Scott Lisko, Launch Weather Officer, 30th Weather Squadron
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Remote camera setups at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 will follow the prelaunch press conference. Photographers wishing to participate should be
at the South Vandenberg Air Force Base gate at 12:00 p.m. (Noon).

Media covering the photo opportunity on launch day of the Delta II at the launch pad after the mobile service tower has been retracted from around the
vehicle should be at the Vandenberg Air Force Base main gate on California State Road 1 at 7:00 a.m. to be escorted to the launch pad.

Media covering the launch should meet at the Vandenberg Air Force Base main gate on California State Road 1 at 3:30 p.m. to be escorted to the press
site viewing area.

NASA TELEVISION AND VOICE CIRCUIT COVERAGE

NASA TV coverage of the prelaunch press conference will begin at 11:00 a.m. PST on January 10. NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 3 p.m. PST on January 11 and conclude at Launch plus 90 minutes (L+90) after both spacecraft have separated from the Delta II launch vehicle.

NASA TV is carried on GE-2, transponder 9C located at 85 degrees West longitude. Audio only will be available on the "V" circuit numbers that may be accessed directly by dialing 321/867- 1220, 1240, 1260, or 7135.

NASA TV coverage of the ICESat/CHIPSat launch will also be webcast on the NASA-KSC Home Page at:

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

Choose "KSC Live Video Feeds" followed by "NASA Television Coverage."

Internet users can also follow the status of the launch at these alternate websites:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com

http://www.spaceref.tv

NASA ICESAT/CHIPSAT NEWS CENTER

The ICESat/CHIPSat News Center at the NASA Vandenberg Resident Office will be staffed beginning Wednesday, January 8 and may be reached at 805/605-3051. A recorded status report will also be available at that time by dialing 805/734-2693.