CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – News conferences, events and operating hours for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the scheduled June 8 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-117 mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is slated for 7:38 p.m. EDT.

On Monday, June 4, the seven Atlantis crew members are scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Media planning to cover the event must be at the News Center by 5 p.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander Rick Sturckow will make a brief statement to the media. NASA Television will air live coverage of the arrival and Sturckow’s remarks.

NASA TV also will broadcast live countdown status briefings and news conferences June 5-8. Complete listings of news briefing times, participants, Kennedy News Center and media credentialing hours of operation are available in the online version of this media advisory at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/index.html

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-117 crew and mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

STS-117 BRIEFING & EVENTS SCHEDULE

(All times are Eastern)

All briefings are held inside the Kennedy Press Site auditorium and will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted. Questions will only be taken from media at Kennedy.

L-4 Days – Monday, June 4

6:30 p.m. – STS-117 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility

L-3 Days – Tuesday, June 5

10 a.m. – Countdown Status Briefing

  • Steve Payne, NASA test director
  • Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

9 p.m. – Launch countdown officially begins (Not on NASA TV)

L-2 Days – Wednesday, June 6

10 a.m. – Countdown Status Briefing

  • Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director
  • Robbie Ashley, STS-117 payload manager
  • Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

4 p.m. (No Earlier Than) – STS-117 Launch Readiness News Conference

  • LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, Space Shuttle Program
  • Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
  • U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Pat Barrett, 45th Weather Squadron

L-1 Day – Thursday, June 7

10 a.m. – Countdown Status Briefing

  • Steve Payne, NASA test director
  • Robbie Ashley, STS-117 payload manager
  • Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

1 p.m. – Exploration Update

  • Scott Horowitz, associate administrator for Exploration
  • Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager

10:30 p.m. – Rotating Service Structure moves to launch position

Launch Day – Friday, June 8

  • 9:42 a.m. – Tanking commences (Not on NASA TV)

  • 1:30 p.m. – Live launch commentary begins

Launch Day Crew Activities: (Times may vary slightly)

  • 10 a.m. — Crew wakes up (Not on NASA TV)
  • 1:45 p.m. — Crew photo opportunity
  • 3:07 p.m. — Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (Not on NASA TV)
  • 3:17 p.m. — Astronauts don flight suits
  • 3:47 p.m. — Depart for launch pad
  • 4:17 p.m. — Arrive at white room and begin ingress
  • 5:32 p.m. — Close crew hatch
  • 7:38 p.m. — Launch

Launch + 1 hour – Post-launch News Conference

  • Rex Geveden, NASA associate administrator
  • Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
  • John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team
  • Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

Kennedy News Center office hours for STS-117 (Hours may be adjusted for in-flight events)

  • Monday, June 4 (Launch minus 4 days) — 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 5 (Launch minus 3 days) — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 6 (Launch minus 2 days) — 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 7 (Launch minus 1 day) — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, June 8 (Launch) Flight day 1 — 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • June 9 – 18 Flight days 2 – 11 — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (except weekends)
  • Tuesday, June 19 (Landing) Flight day 12 — 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

(Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and timelines.)

Media Badging Schedule

News media may obtain STS-117 mission credentials from the Kennedy Space Center Pass and Identification office on State Road 3. Office hours of operation are listed below.

  • Monday, June 4 — 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 5 — 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 6 — 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 7 — 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Friday, June 8 — 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

News media are required to be under NASA Public Affairs escort at all times while at Kennedy Space Center, except when at the News Center or the Complex 39 cafeteria. No photography is allowed anywhere other than the press site unless prior permission is granted by NASA Public Affairs.

News media are allowed at the press site only when Public Affairs personnel are on duty and the NASA News Center is open.