The launch of NASA’s Aqua EOS PM spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II
rocket is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 4 from Space Launch
Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch is targeted to
occur at 2:55 a.m. PDT during a 10-minute launch window. Aqua will be
launched into a 428-mile-high polar orbit at an inclination of 98.2
degrees, orbiting the earth every 99 minutes. The entire surface of
the Earth will rotate beneath the spacecraft every 16 days.

The primary role of the 6,248-pound Aqua spacecraft is to gather
information about the Earth’s water cycle. Information the spacecraft
gathers will help the world’s scientists determine if the cycle of
Earth’s water is being affected by climate change. The data emphasis
will be on atmospheric water vapor, water droplets contained in
clouds, ice crystals, sea ice including icebergs, as well as water in
the oceans and on land including glaciers. Scientists may then
understand the change in Earth bio-systems dependent on water such as
growth of vegetation on land and phytoplankton in the oceans. The data
will also be useful in long-term weather forecasting and understanding
A
character of severe storms. The Aqua mission is planned to last
six years.

ACCREDITATION

News media desiring accreditation for the launch of Aqua should fax
their request on news organization letterhead to:

NASA Vandenberg Resident Office

Aqua Press Accreditation

Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

FAX: 805/605-3380

An access badge will issued by U.S. Air Force representatives
immediately prior to each media activity including the prelaunch news
conference, launch pad tour, remote camera set-up, tower roll-back
photo opportunity and launch.

For further information on launch accreditation call 321/867-2468 at
the Kennedy Space Center. Beginning Wednesday, May 1 call the NASA
Aqua News Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 805/605-3051.

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

The prelaunch news conference will be held on Thursday, May 2, from 1
– 2 p.m. PDT in the main conference room of the NASA-KSC Vandenberg
Resident Office, Building 840, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Participants will be:

Ghassem Asrar, Associate Administrator, Office of Earth Science

NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Chuck Dovale, NASA Launch Manager

Kennedy Space Center, FL

Rich Murphy, Boeing Mission Director

Hunting Beach, CA

Mike Donnelly, Aqua Deputy Project Manager

Goddard Space Flight Center, MD

Captain Greg Fox, USAF Launch Weather Officer, 30th Weather Squadron

Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

Media desiring to cover the prelaunch news conference should meet at
12:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the south gate of Vandenberg Air
Force Base located west of Lompoc on California State Road 246. An
escort will be provided to Building 840.

LAUNCH PAD TOUR

On Friday, May 3, a tour will be offered to the news media of Space
Launch Complex 2. The tour will also include other launch-related
facilities to be used for Aqua. Those wishing to participate will be
provided transportation from the Vandenberg Air Force Base main gate
located on California State Road 1. Departure will be at 8:30 a.m.

REMOTE CAMERAS

Media desiring to establish sound-activated remote cameras at Space
Launch Complex 2 will be escorted to the pad on Friday, May 3.
Departure will be at 12:30 p.m. from the Vandenberg Air Force Base
main gate located on California State Road 1.

TOWER ROLL-BACK PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

On Friday, May 3, there will be a photo opportunity at the pad for
media desiring to observe the mobile service tower, or gantry, being
retracted from around the Delta rocket for launch. Those wishing to
participate will depart at 5:30 p.m. from the main gate of Vandenberg
Air Force Base on California State Road 1.

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE

On launch day, Saturday, May 4, media covering the launch will depart
at 1:45 a.m. from the main gate parking lot located on California
State Road 1 to convoy to the press launch viewing area. After launch,
media desiring to leave will be escorted back to the main gate. Those
media desiring interviews with launch and mission personnel after
spacecraft separation occurs will convoy to NASA Building 840 on South
Vandenberg Air Force Base.

NASA TELEVISION AND VOICE CIRCUIT COVERAGE

NASA Television will carry the prelaunch news conference starting at 1
p.m. PDT on Thursday, May 2. On launch day, Saturday, May 4, NASA TV
coverage of the countdown will begin at 1:30 a.m. PDT and continue
through spacecraft separation that occurs at 59 minutes 30 seconds
into flight.

NASA Television is carried on GE-2, transponder 9C located at 85
degrees West longitude. Audio only will be available on the “V”
circuits, which may be reached by dialing 321/867-1220, 1240, 1260,
and 7135.

NASA TV coverage will also be simulcast on the NASA-KSC Home Page. The
web site address is http://www.ksc.nasa.gov. Choose “KSC Live Video
Feeds” followed by “NASA TV coverage.”

SPECIAL AQUA MISSION WEBCAST

A special live program on the Aqua mission will be webcast on launch
day by the Goddard Space Flight Center beginning at 1:55 a.m. PDT
(08:55 a.m. GMT). The site may be found at:
http://aqua.nasa.gov/outreach/webcast.html. Coverage will continue
until 2 hours after launch.

NASA AQUA NEWS CENTER

The Aqua News Center at the NASA-KSC Vandenberg Resident Office will
be staffed beginning Wednesday, May 1 and may be reached at
805/605-3051. A recorded launch status report will also be available
starting at that time by dialing 805/734-2693.