NASA’s Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology
(DART) spacecraft is scheduled to launch Oct. 26, at 2:13
p.m. EDT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif.
DART will demonstrate key technologies required for
spacecraft to rendezvous with other craft, such as
satellites, without human intervention. DART will combine key
autonomous technologies to actually rendezvous with a target
satellite during the mission. It is the first demonstration
program selected by NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate to develop technologies for the Vision for Space
Exploration.
The prelaunch press conference, with NASA Launch Director
Omar Baez, is Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. EDT, in the Building 840
conference room, VAFB. There will be question and answer
capability from NASA HQ, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) for reporters. Jim
Snoddy, DART Project Manager, will present the mission
briefing after the press conference.
For press conference access and Mission Operations Center
tour, media must meet at the VAFB south gate on California
State Road 246 NLT 1:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 25.
For information about VAFB media launch accreditation
requirements or installation access, call: 30th Wing Public
Affairs Office, VAFB at: 805/606-3595. Media may fax
accreditation requests on news organization letterhead at:
805/606-8303. Requests must contain driver’s license or
passport numbers. Accreditation requests must be received
before 3 p.m. EDT, Oct. 25.
NASA TV and Web live coverage of the DART launch begins at 1
p.m. EDT. To listen to launch commentary or the media
briefings call: 321/867-1220/1240/1260/7135. Points of
contact at NASA centers: Kim Newton, MSFC, 256/544-0034;
George Diller, KSC, 321/867-2468.
NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the
continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72
degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7,
Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio
is monaural at 6.80 MHz. For NASA TV information and to watch
the live launch webcast, visit:
A special live prelaunch webcast is scheduled on Oct. 23 at 7
p.m. EDT. For more information, go to the NASA Direct Web
site at:
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/index.htm
Live information updates will be available through the KSC
Virtual Launch Control center at:
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mission/vlcc.htm
For information about NASA, DART and other agency programs on
the Web, visit:
