Boeing Delta II to Launch NASA's STARDUST Spacecraft
Tuesday, February 2, 1999 11:12 AM
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta II, the
Boeing (NYSE: BA) rocket that sent four NASA probes to Mars,
will soon send the latest NASA craft on the first leg of a
galactic search and recovery mission.
Scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., at
4:06:42 p.m. EST on Feb. 6, a Delta II rocket will boost the
STARDUST spacecraft into orbit where it will collect samples of
cosmic matter before its integrated return capsule returns to
Earth seven years later.
Upon mission completion, it will mark the first NASA mission to
collect extraterrestrial material from outside the orbit of the
Moon.
"We support NASA's philosophy of making the art and science of
space exploration better, faster and cheaper," said Darryl Van
Dorn, Boeing director of commercial and NASA Delta programs. "We
also strive to support this effort by providing low-cost,
reliable launch services for these one-of-a-kind missions."
The STARDUST spacecraft's primary objective is an encounter with
the comet known as Wild 2 in January 2004. The spacecraft will
photograph the comet and will send back to Earth real-time
analysis of samples of cometary dust. Additional cometary dust
particles, collected during flight will undergo further
examination when they are returned in a reentry capsule that
will parachute to Earth in 2006.
The spacecraft also will collect samples of interstellar dust.
Analysis of all dust, some of which originates from the
formation of the solar system, is expected to yield important
insight into the evolution of the sun and planets and possibly
into the origin of life itself.
The STARDUST mission is a collaborative effort between NASA, and
university and industry partners, including the University of
Washington, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Lockheed Martin
Astronautics, contractor for the STARDUST spacecraft and return
capsule.
The STARDUST spacecraft will be launched aboard a Delta II, a
medium capacity expendable launch vehicle derived from the Delta
family of rockets built and launched since 1960. The Delta II
rocket is manufactured in Huntington Beach, Calif., with final
assembly in Pueblo, Colo., and is powered by the RS-27A engine
built by Boeing in Canoga Park, Calif. The Delta launch team at
Cape Canaveral Air Station will handle launch coordination and
operations for the NASA mission.
Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, builds the graphite epoxy
motors for boost assist. Aerojet, Sacramento, Calif.,
manufactures the second-stage engine, Cordant Technologies,
Elkton, Md., supplies the upper-stage engine, and AlliedSignal,
Teterboro, N.J., builds the guidance and flight control system.
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
Media without permanent accreditation who wish to cover the
launch and the pre-launch news conference, should send a letter
of request to NASA on news organization letterhead. It should
include name and Social Security number or passport number.
Letters should be faxed to (407) 867-2692. For full details,
contact Lisa Fowler at NASA, (407) 867-2468.
REMOTE CAMERA SET UP
Following the press conference on L-1, a NASA van will depart
the NASA-Kennedy Space Center News Center at 3 p.m. for news
photographers who wish to set up remote cameras at Launch
Complex 17.
TOWER ROLLBACK PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
A photo opportunity of the Delta launch vehicle for STARDUST
will be available following tower rollback on launch day. Media
wishing to participate will depart the Cape Canaveral Air
Station Gate 1 Pass & ID Bldg. at 10 a.m.
NEWS CONFERENCES AND LAUNCH DAY COVERAGE
A pre-launch news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST L-1 at
the Kennedy Space Center auditorium.
Media covering the launch from Press Site 1 should meet at the
CCAS Gate 1 Pass & ID Bldg. The caravan will leave promptly at
2:30 p.m. EST. A STARDUST mission badge is required for all news
media covering the launch from Press Site 1.
A post-launch news conference will be held at 6 p.m. EST launch
day in the KSC News Center auditorium.
NASA TELEVISION, V-CIRCUIT COVERAGE AND WEBCASTING
NASA Television will carry the pre-launch news conference
starting at 2 p.m. EST, Friday, Feb. 5. On launch day, countdown
coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. EST, continuing through
spacecraft separation (approximately 28 minutes later). The
post-launch news conference also will be carried, starting at 6
p.m. EST.
NASA Television is available on GE-2, transponder 9C, located at
85 degrees West longitude. Audio only of STARDUST events also
will be available on the "V" circuits, which may be dialed
directly at (407) 867-1220, (407) 867-1240, (407) 867-1260,
(407) 867-7135, (407) 867-4003, (407) 867-4920.
Information on viewing the launch over the Internet is available
at: (http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/launch_internet.html).
SOURCE The Boeing Company
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