January 8, 1996
KSC Contact: Lisa Malone
KSC Release No. 1-96

Notice to Editors/News Directors:
MISSION STS-72 EVENTS, NEWS CENTER OPERATING HOURS SET

News conferences, events and operating hours for KSC's News Center have been set for the Jan. 11 launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Mission STS-72, the first launch of the calendar year. These events are scheduled to be carried live on NASA TV (please refer to the STS-72 TV schedule for exact times).

Launch is currently set for 4:18 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 11, at the opening of a 49 minute, 30 second window. The window extends until 5:07:30 a.m. EST. The exact length of the window may vary slightly depending on the location of the Japanese Space Flyer Unit.

KSC News Center hours of operation during the mission will be determined after launch.

# # # #
Information about the countdown and mission can be accessed electronically via the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/ and at http://shuttle.nasa.gov/.

KSC press releases and other information are available at the KSC PAO Home Page at http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm.

* * * *
STS-72 BRIEFING SCHEDULE
(all times are in EST and conferences are held inside the KSC Press Site auditorium)

L-2 Days - Tuesday, Jan. 9


Countdown Status Briefing------------------------------------------9:00 a.m.
John Stealey, NASA Test Director
Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer

Pre-launch News Conference-----------------------------------------3:30 p.m.
--------------------(or immediately following the management team's meeting)

Tommy Holloway, NASA Shuttle Program Manager, Johnson Space Center
Bob Sieck, Director of  Shuttle Operations, KSC
ISAS  participant TBD
Capt. Scot  Heckman, KSC Staff Weather Liaison (Note: the spelling Scot is correct)


L-1 Day - Wednesday, Jan. 10


Countdown Status Briefing------------------------------------------9:00 a.m.
John Stealey, NASA Test Director
Roelof Schuiling, STS-72 Payload Manager
Ed Priselac, Shuttle Weather Officer

Replay of STS-72 crew, mission briefings------------------------------- TBD

NASA Television live launch programming begins--------------------11:00 p.m.


Launch Day - Thursday, Jan. 11


Launch of Endeavour------------------------------------------------4:18 a.m.

Post-launch press conference--------------------------------------L + 1 hour
Loren Shriver, manager of Launch Integration for the Space Shuttle Program
James Harrington, KSC Launch Director

NASDA Japanese Press Conference------------------------------L + 1 1/2 hours
(local briefing at KSC; translation will be provided)
NASA Television is carried on Spacenet 2, transponder 5, channel 9, C-band, located at 69 degrees West longitude, with horizontal polarization. Frequency is 3880 MHz with audio on 6.8 MHz.

KSC News Center office hours for STS-72
(hours may be adjusted for in-flight events)
(Launch minus 3 days) Monday, Jan. 8	 		7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Launch minus 2 days) Tuesday, Jan. 9 			8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Launch minus 1 day) Wednesday, Jan. 10 		7:00 a.m. - around-the-
(Launch day) Flight day 1, Thursday, Jan. 11 		    clock - 4:30 p.m.
Flight Day 2, Friday, Jan. 12 				8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
News media representatives may obtain STS-72 mission credentials at the Pass and Identification Building at Gate 2 on State Road 3, Merritt Island, during the following times:

Monday, Jan. 8       --    7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 9      --    8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 10   --    8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 11    --   12:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
News media with annual Shuttle credentials are reminded to sign the log book at the photo and interview counter in the News Center.

NEWS MEDIA ARE REQUIRED TO BE UNDER PUBLIC AFFAIRS ESCORT EXCEPT WHEN DRIVING TO THE NEWS CENTER OR THE COMPLEX 39 CAFETERIA. IN ADDITION, NEWS MEDIA ARE ALLOWED ON CENTER ONLY WHEN THE NEWS CENTER IS OPEN.

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