To: Florida media
From: Linda Billings, Director of Communications, SPACEHAB-Washington
Office, ph. 202/488-3500 x. 201; toll-free 888/647-9543
Re: October 24-25 tour/dedication of Astrotech Spacecraft Processing
Facility, Titusville, Florida
I am following up on earlier queries regarding your participation in events
planned for next week at our Astrotech Space Operations subsidiary’s newly
expanded Spacecraft Processing Facility in Titusville.
The newly expanded facility will accommodate satellites that are increasing
in size from four to five meters in diameter and from 6,000 to more than
10,000 pounds (payload fairings are increasing from 37 to 75 feet in
length). The facility will be the only satellite processing complex at
Kennedy Space Center/Cape Canaveral Air Force Station specifically designed
to accommodate five-meter payload fairings for Atlas V and Delta IV
missions.
On Wednesday October 25, from 2-4 p.m., we are conducting a media tour of
the new facility, led by Astrotech Senior Vice President and General Manager
John Satrom.
On Thursday October 26, at 9 a.m., we’ll be holding a press briefing; Mr.
Satrom and SPACEHAB Chairman and CEO Shelley A. Harrison will address
questions about the facility and the day’s events.
On Thursday at 10 a.m., we’ll be holding a building dedication ceremony,
featuring speakers from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Brevard County
government. The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon reception.
If you plan to participate in any of these events, please let us know in
advance, as Astrotech’s security guards will require your names to let you
onto the facilities. For all events, we will meet at Astrotech headquarters
(see next page for address and directions – parking is available at HQ) and
then move to the new facility together. If you have any questions or would
like to RSVP:
* Through Monday October 22, please contact Linda Billings,
ph. 202/488-3500 x. 201, fax 202/488-8251, email: billings@hqspacehab.com.* Tuesday Oct. 24-Thursday Oct.26: please contact LaDonna
Neterer, ph. 321/868-7411; or Joanne Lauer, ph. 321/268-3830, x. 4000.
Astrotech’s Florida Payload Processing Facility is located on a 62-acre
tract approximately three miles west of Kennedy Space Center in the city of
Titusville, adjacent to the Spacecoast Regional Airport. The complex
consists of nine major buildings, including the new SPF, dedicated to
spacecraft processing, payload storage, warehouse storage, and customer
office accommodations. The newest building, valued at $30 million, increases
the company’s total Florida space by 50 percent adding over 50,000 square
feet, and provides for 5-meter processing capability to support the new
Atlas V and Delta IV programs.