NASA Sets Media Credentials Deadlines for Next Shuttle Flight

NASA has set media accreditation deadlines for space shuttle Discovery's
STS-124 mission, targeted to launch May 31. The 13-day flight to the
International Space Station will include three spacewalks to continue assembly
of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The shuttle's
seven-member crew will work with the station crew and ground teams to install
a new pressurized lab and a robotic arm for Kibo.

All journalists must apply for credentials to attend the liftoff from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida or cover the mission from other NASA centers.
To be accredited, media must work for legitimate, verifiable news-gathering
organizations. Reporters may need to submit requests for credentials at
multiple NASA facilities.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by
journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries include
those with which the United States has no diplomatic relations, on the State
Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism, are under U.S. sanction or
embargo, or which raise proliferation concerns. Please contact the accrediting
NASA center for details. Journalists should confirm they have been accredited
before they travel.

No substitutions of credentials are allowed at any NASA facility. If the
STS-124 launch is delayed, the deadline for domestic media may be extended on
a day-by-day basis.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
Reporters applying for credentials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center should
submit requests via the Web at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Media must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when applying.
Once accreditation is approved, applicants will receive confirmation via
e-mail.

Accredited media with mission badges will have access to Kennedy from launch
through the end of the mission. Application deadlines for mission badges are
May 13 for U.S. media and May 6 for foreign media.

Access requests must be submitted separately for Discovery's rollout to the
launch pad, targeted for May 4, and the launch dress rehearsal activities,
known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, from May 6 to 8. For
rollout, U.S. media must apply by April 28 and foreign media by April 17. For
the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, U.S. media must apply by April 28
and foreign media by April 17.

Journalists with special logistic requests for Kennedy, such as space for
satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or work space, must contact
Laurel Lichtenberger at laurel.a.lichtenberger@nasa.gov by May 21.

Work space in the Kennedy News Center and News Center Annex is provided on a
first-come basis -- one space per organization. To set up temporary telephone,
fax, ISDN or network lines, media must make arrangements with BellSouth at
800-213-4988. Media must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy News Center
prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat, contact Patricia
Christian at patricia.christian-1@nasa.gov. Media must have a public affairs
escort to any other area except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Reporters may obtain NASA Johnson Space Center credentials by calling the
Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 or presenting Kennedy STS-124 mission
credentials. Media planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need to
apply for credentials only at Johnson. Deadlines for submitting Johnson
accreditation requests are May 2 for non-U.S. media, regardless of
citizenship, and May 23 for U.S. media who are U.S. citizens.

Media covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy credentials also must
contact the Johnson newsroom by May 23 to arrange workspace, phone lines and
other logistics. Johnson is responsible for credentialing media if the shuttle
lands at White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White
Sands, Johnson will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER
Notice for a space shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., could be short. Domestic media should consider
accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel who could travel quickly to Dryden.
Deadlines for submitting Dryden Flight Research Center accreditation requests
are May 6 for non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship, and June 5 for U.S.
media who are U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic media must
provide their full name, date of birth, place of birth, media organization,
the last six digits of their social security number and driver's license
number, including the name of the issuing state.

In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives,
regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their citizenship, visa
or passport number and their expiration date. Foreign nationals representing
either domestic or foreign media who have permanent residency status must
provide their alien registration number and expiration date.

Media should fax requests for credentials on company letterhead to
661-276-3566. E-mailed requests to alan.brown@nasa.gov are acceptable for
media who have been accredited at Dryden within the past year. Requests must
include a phone number and business e-mail address for follow-up contact.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:
Kennedy Space Center: Candrea Thomas, 321-867-2468, candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
Johnson Space Center: James Hartsfield, 281-483-5111,
james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov
Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893,
leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

For information about the STS-124 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

CONTACT: John Yembrick of NASA Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-0602,
John.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- March 31/

SOURCE NASA