Payload:                 TDRS-J
                         Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-J
                         Boeing 601 platform
                         Separated mass:  Approx. 7,032 lbs (3,190 kg)

Launch Vehicle:          Atlas IIA, designated AC-144
                         Weight at liftoff:  414,860 lbs (188,230 kg),
                         including payload
                         Fairing: 14 ft (4.2 m) diameter aluminum
                         Height: 155.5 ft (47.4 m)

Launch Date:             Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002

Launch Window:           40 minutes
                         9:42-10:22 p.m. EST
                         6:42-7:22  p.m. PST
                         0242-0322 Dec. 5 GMT

Launch Site:             Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
                         Launch Complex 36, Pad A

Launch Customer:         NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Satellite End User:      NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center,
                         Greenbelt, Md.

Satellite Manufacturer:  Boeing Satellite Systems, El Segundo, Calif.

Launch Vehicle           Atlas vehicle and Centaur upper stage built
Manufacturer:            by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver,
                         Colo.; San Diego, Calif.; and Harlingen,
                         Texas.

Launch Services
Provider:                International Launch Services,  McLean, Va.

Satellite Use:           Replenishment effort for NASA's Tracking and
                         Data Relay Satellite System, providing high
                         data rate communications links with the space
                         shuttle, space station, Hubble Space
                         Telescope and other NASA spacecraft in
                         low-Earth orbit. The TDRS constellation also
                         provides tracking services for expendable
                         launch vehicles.

Satellite Statistics:    -- Boeing 601 model
                         -- 3rd of 3 in current TDRS series

Mission Profile:         Standard Atlas IIA ascent profile, two-burn
                         Centaur mission to subsynchronous transfer
                         orbit, using a minimum residual shutdown
                         mission design (all Centaur propellants
                         burned to depletion). Satellite's own
                         attitude and orbital control system will
                         perform a series of burns to raise perigee to
                         geo-synchronous altitude, circularize orbit
                         and reduce inclination.

Spacecraft Separation:   30 minutes after liftoff

Orbital Parameters:      Apogee Altitude:        16,278 nm (30,147 km)
(@ Separation)           Perigee Altitude:       120 nm (222 km)
                         Inclination:            27 deg
                         Flight Azimuth:         95.4 deg

ILS Mission Statistics:  -- 23rd and final Atlas IIA vehicle
                         -- Atlas family has perfect record in 62
                            consecutive flights
                         -- 8th ILS mission this year
                         -- 11th satellite launched for NASA under
                            commercial Atlas program




                         NEWS MEDIA ACTIVITIES
                           All times are EST


Pre-launch Briefing:     3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3
                         NASA News Center
                         Kennedy Space Center

Remote Camera Set-up:    9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. Accredited
                         photographers should meet at KSC News Center
                         to board a van that will take them to
                         Complex 36.

Tower Rollback:          6:42 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. News media
                         should meet at Cape Canaveral Air Force
                         Station Pass & ID Building at 6:15 p.m. to
                         board a van that will take them to the
                         viewing site. RSVP required by close of
                         business Dec. 3 by calling NASA-KSC News
                         Center at 321-867-2468.

Launch Viewing:          News media covering the launch should meet at
                         the CCAFS Pass & I.D. at 8 p.m. Wednesday,
                         Dec. 4, for badging and Air Force escort to
                         Press Site 1.

Live Broadcast:          Pre-launch briefing and the launch will be
                         carried on NASA TV. Launch broadcast begins
                         at 8 p.m. Satellite GE-2, transponder
                         9/C-band, at 85 degrees west.

More Information:        General mission information and launch
                         highlights will be available on the ILS web
                         site at www.ilslaunch.com. NASA will carry a
                         live webcast at www.ksc.nasa.gov. Launch
                         status updates will be available on the ILS
                         U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at
                         1-800-852-4980.