The Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft filled with cargo for the International Space Station will be the focus of a media opportunity on Tuesday, March 8, at NASA’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Media representatives will be able to photograph the Cygnus spacecraft and interview Orbital ATK and United Launch Alliance project and launch program officials. News media should be at the Kennedy Space Center Press Site at 12:15 p.m. Arrival back at the Press Site will occur by 3:30 p.m.
The fifth commercial resupply services mission for Orbital ATK is targeted for liftoff atop a commercial United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on March 22 at approximately 11:05 p.m. EST.
Orbital ATK uses the Cygnus to perform ISS resupply flights under the Commercial Resupply Services contract. 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. This mission will be the second flight of the enhanced variant of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus pressurized cargo module, which will be delivering approximately 7,700 pounds of cargo to the station.
Spokespersons available for interviews at the event include:
Dan Tani, senior director, Mission and Cargo Operations
Orbital ATK, Dulles, Virginia
Vernon Thorp, program manager, NASA and commercial missions
United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colorado
Randy Gordon, NASA International Space Station Mission Support Office
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
There will be a brief orientation about the Cygnus module prior to dressing out and entering the clean room. Full clean-room attire must be worn and will be furnished. 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 PHSF. Prior to entering the facility high bay, photographers will need to 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; however, the facility has adequate high pressure sodium lighting (orange cast) for pictures. On this occasion, wireless microphones will be permitted inside the high bay.
Nonessential equipment, such as suede, leather or vinyl camera bags or other carrying cases, must be left outside the cleanroom. No pencils, food, tobacco, chewing gum, lighters, matches or pocket knives will be allowed. Cellular telephones are not permitted inside the clean room.
News media accreditation requests for this event should be submitted online at:
This event is not open to foreign news media. Only news media who are United States citizens may attend this activity. The deadline to apply for accreditation is 4 p.m. on Monday, March 7. U.S. media representatives must present two forms of unexpired legal, government identification 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:
For more information about the International Space Station, its crew and research, visit:
