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NASA News 
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration

John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
_____________________________________________________________________
For Release: June 5, 2003       

Dennis Armstrong
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(321) 867-2468                      

KSC Release No. 41 - 03

KSC'S EXPENDABLE VEHICLE WEB COVERAGE DEBUTS WITH MER-A LAUNCH

With the launch of the first rover beginning the Mars Exploration
Rover (MER) mission, the Kennedy Space Center Web site is celebrating
its first-time online coverage of an expendable vehicle mission. 

On Saturday, June 7, NASA Direct!'s MER-A programming will kick off
with "Preparing for Launch," hosted by Jon Cowart and featuring
Launch Weather Officer Joel Tumbiolo, NASA Launch Manager Omar Baez,
and MER Manager Matt Wallace. The launch day program, "MER Mission
Overview," will be hosted by Tiffany Nail and will include MER Flight
Systems Manager Richard Cook and Deputy Project Manager Richard
Brace.

Viewers will see informative programming highlighting the objectives
of the MER-A launch and the twin rovers' upcoming mission. During
both programs, featured guests will answer questions submitted to the
NASA Direct! Question Boards from space enthusiasts around the world.
The NASA Direct! home page and Question Boards can be viewed online
at

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/index.htm.

In addition to NASA Direct!, the KSC Web will provide live countdown
coverage from the Virtual Launch Control Center, located at
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mera/vlcc.htm. Coverage will feature
real-time updating as milestones occur during the countdown, as well
as downloadable and streaming video clips of countdown events. All
videos will be provided in RealMedia format, with downloadable clips
available in two sizes for users with 56K modems or cable/broadband
connections. 

MER-A WEB COVERAGE SCHEDULE (all times are EDT and subject to change)

L-1 Day - Saturday, June 7
Approx. 2:15 p.m.   NASA Direct! program: Preparing for Launch
    
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/elv/mera/event1.htm

L-0 Days - Launch Day, Sunday, June 8
Approx. 12:15 p.m.  Live countdown coverage begins
            http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mera/vlcc.htm

Approx. 5:15 p.m.   NASA Direct! program: MER Mission Overview
    
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/nasadirect/elv/mera/event2.htm

For the exact time of the start of NASA Direct! programming, please
check the NASA Direct! site each program day.

Although coverage events for this mission do not begin until one day
prior to launch, the MER-A coverage site at

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/mera/index.htm

was activated approximately one month before the anticipated launch
date. KSC's Expendable Launch Vehicles site at

http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/elvnew/elv.htm will always serve as a
starting point for coverage of other NASA ELV missions. 

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