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John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
_____________________________________For Release: Jan. 21, 2003

David Steitz                                                               
                  
NASA Headquarters                                                                  
202/358-1753          

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
321/867-2468

Lynn Chandler
Goddard Space Flight Center
301/286-2806

Barron Beneski
Orbital Sciences Corporation
703/406-5528

KSC Release No. 10-03

NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:
SORCE SPACECRAFT TO BE LAUNCHED JANUARY 25

The launch of the NASA-sponsored Solar Radiation and Climate 
Experiment (SORCE) spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation 
(OSC) air-launched Pegasus vehicle is scheduled for deployment over 
the Atlantic Ocean from OSC's L-1011 carrier air n Saturday, Jan. 25 
at 3:14 p.m. EST.  This time is contained within a launch window that 
opens at 3:10 p.m. and closes at 4:08 p.m. EST.

The launch begins with the drop of the Pegasus rocket from the L-1011 
over the Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of 39,000 feet at a location 
approximately 100 miles offshore east-southeast from Cape Canaveral 
Air Force Station, Fla.  The launch is e to be visible from the coast.  
Spacecraft separation from the Pegasus occurs approximately 10 minutes 
later.  At that time the satellite will be in an orbit of 400 statute 
miles at a 40-degree inclination, orbiting the earth 15 times each 
day.

SORCE is a NASA Earth Science mission that will examine the roll of 
the Sun's energy in climate change, information vital for our 
understanding and protection of our home planet.  The satellite will 
provide state-of-the-art measurements of incoming X-ray , ultraviolet, 
visible, near-infrared, and total solar radiation. 

The measurements provided by SORCE address long-term climate change, 
climate prediction, atmospheric ozone and ultraviolet-B radiation.  
These measurements are critical to studies of the Sun, its effect on 
our Earth system and influence on humankind.

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the 
University of Colorado is responsible for the overall program 
management of SORCE.  NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center provides the 
management, oversight, and engineering support for the spac ecraft.  
LASP built, calibrated, and tested the SORCE instruments and 
subcontracted to Orbital Sciences Corporation for the spacecraft bus 
and integration of the five instruments.  The Kennedy Space Center is 
responsible for spacecraft/launch vehicle int egration, countdown 
management, launch vehicle engineering oversight and mission 
assurance.

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE  

The prelaunch news conference is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 24 at 2 
p.m. EST at the NASA-KSC News Center.  Participating in the briefing 
will be:

Dr. Donald Anderson, SORCE Program Manager
NASA Headquarters

Omar Baez, NASA Launch Director
John F. Kennedy Space Center

Bryan Baldwin, Pegasus Launch Vehicle Program Manager
Orbital Sciences Corporation

Dr. Gary Rottman, Mission Principle Investigator
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
University of Colorado at Boulder

Lt. Michael Jennings, Launch Weather Officer
45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
                                                            
ACCREDITATION

Media needing accreditation should apply on news organization 
letterhead addressed to NASA Press Accreditations and faxed to 
321/867-2692.  Please include full name, Social Security number and 
birth date, place of birth and statement of U.S. Citizens .

LAUNCH DAY PRESS COVERAGE

On launch day, Jan 25 at 1:15 p.m., media representatives will depart 
from the NASA-KSC Press Site and from Gate 3 by government-furnished 
transportation for the Skid Strip runway to view the take-off of the 
L-1011.  After aircraft departure, medis will be taken to the viewing 
room of the NASA Mission Director's Center located in Hangar AE on 
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  From there, media may follow the 
deployment and launch of Pegasus/SORCE.  Media may also return to the 
NASA-KSC News Center if they choose to follow progress of the flight.

Assuming a nominal flight of the Pegasus launch vehicle, a post-launch 
news conference will not be held.  However, launch vehicle and 
spacecraft representatives will be available afterward at Hangar AE to 
informally answer questions from the media.  Medi a who have elected 
to return to the Press Site will be able to teleconference from the 
News Center conference room if they so request.

NASA TELEVISION COVERAGE OF PEGASUS/SORCE

This Pegasus launch occurs with a chase plane equipped with a 
television camera.  There will be live coverage on NASA Television 
beginning at 2 p.m. EST and will conclude after spacecraft separation, 
approximately 15 minutes after launch.  Commen d audio of all 
Pegasus/SORCE briefings will be available on the "V" audio circuits 
which may be dialed directly at 321/867- 1220, 1240, 1260.

The Pegasus/SORCE prelaunch news conference will be televised at 2 
p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.  On launch day, Saturday, Jan. 25, launch 
coverage begins on NASA Television at 2 p.m. EST.                          
                          
NASA Television is available on GE-2, Transponder 9C, located at 85 
degrees West longitude.

These activities will also be webcast and accessed through the KSC 
Home Page at www.ksc.nasa.gov.

PEGASUS/SORCE NEWS CENTER

On launch day, the Pegasus/SORCE News Center at NASA-KSC may be 
reached at 321/867-2468 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. EST.  A recorded 
status report will also available beginning Friday, Jan. 24 by dialing 
321/867-2525.

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