Media will have the opportunity to view the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft filled with cargo and research for the International Space Station on Friday, Nov.13, at NASA’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Photos will be permitted, and representatives from Orbital ATK, United Launch Alliance, and the International Space Station office at Kennedy will be available for interviews at the facility. Media will depart from Kennedy’s Press Site at 1 p.m. EST, returning by 4:30 p.m.
The unpiloted Cygnus will be Orbital ATK’s fourth cargo mission to the space station for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract, and the first flight of the enhanced variant of the Cygnus pressurized cargo module, which will deliver more than 7,000 pounds to the station. Cygnus consists of a pressurized cargo module for crew supplies, scientific experiments and equipment, together with an associated service module providing solar power and propulsion.
The launch is currently targeted for Thursday, Dec. 3 during a 30-minute window that opens at approximately 6 p.m., aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Full clean room attire will be provided and must be worn during the PHSF tour. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. No shorts, skirts or high heels will be permitted. To be consistent with clean room protocol, journalists are asked not to wear perfume, cologne or makeup.
NASA security will verify the integrity of camera equipment and associated items to be taken inside the facility. Prior to entering the high bay, photographers must clean camera equipment under the supervision of contamination control specialists. Alcohol wipes will be provided.
All camera equipment must be self-contained. No portable lights can be permitted. Flash photography will be allowed, but the facility has adequate high pressure sodium lighting (orange cast) for pictures. Wireless microphones will be permitted inside the high bay.
Nonessential equipment such as camera bags or other carrying cases, cellular phones, pencils, food, tobacco, chewing gum, lighters, matches or pocket knives are prohibited inside the clean room.
Media accreditation requests for this event should be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
This event is open only to media who are United States citizens. The deadline to apply for accreditation is 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12. Two forms of unexpired legal, government identification is required to access Kennedy Space Center. One form must include a photo, such as a driver’s license or passport. Badges will be available for pick up at the Kennedy badging office located on State Road 405 east of the Kennedy Visitor Complex. Hours for the Kennedy Badging Office are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Questions about accreditation should be directed to Jennifer Horner at jennifer.p.horner@nasa.gov or by calling 321-867-6598.
For other questions or additional information, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468.
For more information about the Orbital ATK resupply mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orbital
For more information about the International Space Station, its crew and research, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
