NASA Offers News Media Access to Twin RBSP Spacecraft

[KSC News Center <ksc@mediaservices.nasa.gov>]

July 30, 2012

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

Geoffrey Brown
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
240-228-5618
geoffrey.brown@jhuapl.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY: M40-12

NASA OFFERS NEWS MEDIA ACCESS TO TWIN RBSP SPACECRAFT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP), set 
to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Aug. 23, 
will be the focus of a media opportunity at 10 a.m. EDT Thursday, 
Aug. 2, at the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, 
Fla. Media will be able to photograph the RBSP spacecraft and 
interview project and launch program officials. The spacecraft will 
be seen just prior to encapsulation into the payload fairing of the 
Atlas V-401 launch vehicle.

The two-year RBSP mission will help scientists develop an 
understanding of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and related 
regions that pose hazards to human and robotic explorers. RBSP will 
use twin probes to explore space weather - changes in Earth's space 
environment caused by the sun - that can disable satellites, create 
power grid failures and disrupt GPS service. The mission also will 
allow researchers to understand fundamental radiation and particle 
acceleration processes throughout the universe.

Spokespersons from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics 
Laboratory (APL) and the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) will be 
available for questions and interviews. APL participants will be Dr. 
Nicky Fox, deputy project scientist; Jim Stratton, mission systems 
engineer; and Kim Cooper, deputy project manager for instruments. 
LSP's representative will be Rex Engelhardt, RBSP mission manager at 
Kennedy Space Center.

Procedures for magnetically sensitive spacecraft must be followed by 
media entering the cleanroom where the spacecraft are being prepared 
for launch. Full cleanroom attire (bunny suits) must be worn and will 
be furnished. Media should not wear perfume, cologne or makeup. Long 
pants and closed-toe shoes must be worn - no shorts or skirts.

Camera equipment will be cleaned prior to cleanroom entry by 
contamination-control specialists from APL. All camera equipment must 
be self-contained and no portable lights will be allowed. 
Non-essential equipment such as suede, leather or vinyl camera bags 
or other carrying cases must be left outside the cleanroom. Cleanroom 
paper and non-retractable ballpoint pens will be provided. No 
notebook paper, pencils or retractable pens can be permitted. No 
food, tobacco, chewing gum, lighters, matches or pocketknives will be 
allowed.

Flash photography will be permitted; however, there also is adequate 
metal halide lighting in the facility for pictures (white with slight 
green cast; suggested exposure for ISO-ASA 400 is 1/30 sec. at 
f/5.6). Wireless microphones also will be permitted to be used for 
this event; however, cellular telephones are not allowed inside the 
cleanroom. Also, because both of the RBSP spacecraft are magnetically 
sensitive, magnets or devices containing magnets may not be brought 
in. All equipment will be scanned for magnetic potential prior to 
entry.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, U.S. news media representatives may proceed 
directly to Astrotech located in the Spaceport Florida Industrial 
Park, 1515 Chaffee Drive, Titusville. Access will be available 
starting at 9:45 a.m. and the event will begin at 10 a.m. News media 
identification and a government photo identification such as a 
driver's license or passport will be required. News media who are 
foreign nationals may attend only if they possess a permanently 
issued NASA news media accreditation badge from the Kennedy Space 
Center, not a temporary badge.

RBSP is part of NASA's Living with a Star Program, which is managed by 
the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The Johns 
Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., built 
the pair of RBSP spacecraft and will manage the mission for NASA. The 
Launch Services Program at Kennedy is responsible for the launch 
management. United Launch Alliance is the provider of the Atlas V 
launch service.

Media representatives should call the NASA Kennedy News Center 
codaphone (321-867-2525) on Wednesday evening to assure that the 
event is on schedule.

For more information about RBSP, visit:

http:www.nasa.gov/rbsp

For more information about Kennedy Space Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy  

	
-end-



To subscribe to the list, send a message to: 
ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
To remove your address from the list, send a message to:
ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov