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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: April 9, 2003

Don Savage                                                        
NASA Headquarters

(202) 358-1753                                 

George H. Diller                           
Kennedy Space Center    
(321) 867-2468             

Jane Platt                            
Jet Propulsion Laboratory           
(818) 354-0880                            

KSC Release No. 29-03

SPACE INFRARED TELESCOPE FACILITY (SIRTF) TO BE LAUNCHED ABOARD DELTA
II APRIL 18

Part 1 of 2

The launch of NASA's Space Infrared Telescope Facility aboard a
Boeing Delta II Heavy expendable launch vehicle is scheduled for
Friday, April 18, at the opening of an instantaneous launch window
that occurs at 4:32:49 a.m. EDT.  Launch will occur from Pad 17-B on
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. 

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility marks the finale of NASA's
Great Observatories Program, which includes the Hubble Space
Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Compton Gamma Ray
Observatory.  Its unprecedented infrared sensitivity will allow
astronomers to study the most distant, coldest, and most dust-
obscured objects and processes in the universe.

The observatory's amazing ability to sleuth around for
low-temperature objects will also aid in the search for planetary
systems in the making, some of which may breed Earth-like planets.
The mission is a cornerstone of NASA's Origins Program, which seeks
to answer the questions, "Where did we come from?  Are we alone? "

SIRTF Prelaunch Press Conference

The prelaunch press conference will be held at the NASA News Center
at KSC on Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. EDT.  Participating in the
briefing will be:

Dr. Ed Weiler, associate administrator for space science
NASA Headquarters, Washington

Omar Baez, NASA launch director
Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Kris Walsh, director of NASA Programs
Boeing Expendable Launch Systems, Huntington Beach, California 

David Gallagher, SIRTF project manager
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

USAF Delta/SIRTF Launch Weather Officer
45th Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

Immediately following the prelaunch press conference, there will
be a SIRTF mission science briefing.  Participating will be:

Dr. Anne Kinney, director, Astronomy and Physics Division
NASA Headquarters, Washington

Dr. Michael Werner, SIRTF project scientist
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Dr. Robert Kennicut, astronomer, SIRTF Legacy Science Team
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Dr. Michael Jura, SIRTF interdisciplinary scientist
University of California, Los Angeles, California

Dr. Dale Cruikshank, SIRTF interdisciplinary scientist for planetary
science NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

No post-launch press conference will be held.  A post-launch release
will be issued at approximately 8 a.m. with details on the state of
health of SIRTF. 

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