Media Accreditation Now Under Way for Mission STS-121

Longueuil, Quebec, February 15, 2006 — Space Shuttle Discovery is presently scheduled for launch between May 3 and 22, 2006 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. To ensure the safety of mission STS-121, the team will again call upon two key technologies contributed by Canada: the extended inspection boom developed by MDA and the laser camera built by Neptec. The Canadian Space Agency will also play an important role when its Mission Control Centre in Longueuil is used to support robotics operations. Taking part in the mission will be a team of CSA engineers in Longueuil and at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre Canadian Chief Astronaut Julie Payette will be the Lead CapCom.

Canadian media assigned to this mission can now request the mandatory accreditation from NASA. Media representatives must work for legitimate media organizations whose existence can be verified. Media covering the mission will be asked to present their accreditation at a number of NASA sites.

Kennedy Space Centre (KSC)

Media representatives who wish to obtain KSC accreditation should submit their request through the Web at media.ksc.nasa.gov

All media must apply by the April 7 deadline. In late April, accredited media may attend a rehearsal of the launch (Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test) and all other Discovery mission events. Media must use business, not personal, e-mail addresses when applying for accreditation. Processing of the request takes about three weeks. Once accreditation is approved, media will receive confirmation via e-mail. Badges will be available for pick-up beginning April 21.

Media with special logistic requests, such as space for trailers, electrical connections or workstations in the newsroom, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger, at laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov by April 7.

Workstations are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. To set up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN, or network lines, media must make arrangements with Bell South, at (800) 213?4988. Media must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy newsroom prior to setting up lines. Media are required to have a public affairs escort to visit any area at KSC, except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

KSC credentials will be honoured during the STS-121 mission at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, and at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Media may either present Kennedy STS-121 mission credentials or obtain specific accreditation for JSC by calling the Center’s newsroom at (281) 483?5111. Media planning to cover the mission only from JSC should only apply at JSC.

The deadline for submitting JSC accreditation requests is April 4 for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship.

Media covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy credentials must contact the newsroom by April 20 to arrange workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible for media accreditation if the shuttle lands at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, credentials will be arranged.

Dryden Flight Research Center The shuttle might land on short notice at Dryden. Media should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could quickly travel to Dryden.

Submit requests for accreditation to Dryden Public Affairs by March 24 for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship.

Canadian media representatives, regardless of citizenship, must furnish the following information: full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization, the last six digits of the social security number and driver’s license number, citizenship, visa or passport number, expiration date, and alien registration number (if applicable).

Please fax requests for Dryden accreditation on company letterhead to (661) 276?3566. Note that e-mail requests to pao@dfrc.nasa.gov are only acceptable for media who have been to Dryden within the past year. Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact. No substitution of non-accredited media is permitted.

For information about the STS-121 mission and crew, visit: www.nasa.gov/shuttle.

For more information
Julie Simard
Media Relations
(450) 926-4370
Julie.simard@space.gc.ca