NASA’s Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP), to be launched later this month,
will be featured in a news media opportunity at Kennedy Space Center on
Friday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m.
Using a scanning method, MAP will make an accurate, precise, full sky
picture of cosmic microwave background radiation, the afterglow of the Big
Bang. MAP seeks to answer fundamental questions about the formation and fate
of the universe. Among the questions MAP will attempt to answer: How old is
the universe? How and when did the first galaxies form? Will the universe
expand forever or will it collapse? How rapidly is the universe expanding?
For this event, standard clean room protocol will be observed. Those
planning to attend are requested to wear long pants. Shorts or tank tops are
not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are also required. Clean room attire (bunny
suits) will be furnished. Quality control personnel may request cleaning of
photographic equipment with alcohol wipes that will be provided. No suede,
leather or vinyl attire or accessories are permitted. Please do not wear
perfume, cologne or makeup. No graphite pencils, food, tobacco, lighters,
matches, or pocketknives will be permitted inside the clean room.
Electronic flash photography is permitted. The lighting in the facility is
mercury vapor.
The MAP spacecraft is highly sensitive to radio frequency (RF)
transmissions. Therefore, for this spacecraft showing, no cellular
telephones, pagers, or two-way radios can be allowed inside the SAEF-2 clean
room.
KSC annual badges will be in effect for this event. Those needing
accreditation should contact the NASA News Center at 321/867-2468 by the
close of business Thursday, June 14. Departure for SAEF-2 will be at 1:30
p.m. on Friday, June 15.
MAP is scheduled to be launched on June 30 at 3:46 p.m. aboard a Boeing
Delta II rocket from Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Additional information on the MAP mission can be found at: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/gsfc/spacesci/map/map.htm
