Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., May 14, 1997 -- A McDonnell Douglas (NYSE: MD) Delta II three-stage expendable rocket will launch the Thor II telecommunications satellite on Sunday, May 18 from Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS), Fla. There will be two potential launch windows of 44 minutes and 51 minutes, respectively, during a 186-minute time period beginning at 6:39 p.m. and ending at 9:45 p.m. EDT. The first launch window opens at 6:39 p.m. and closes at 7:23 p.m. and the second launch window opens at 8:54 PM. and closes at 9:45 p.m.
REMOTE CAMERAS
Remote cameras will be placed at the Delta launch complex on the morning of May 18. Media wishing to set up are asked to meet McDonnell Douglas representative Keith Takahashi at the CCAS South Gate (Pass and ID Center) at 7:45 a.m.
MEDIA PRE-LAUNCH BRIEFING
On May 18 McDonnell Douglas will host a pre-launch media briefing in the Operations Building at CCAS. Participants from McDonnell Douglas, Hughes Space and Communications and Telenor will be present. Media wishing to attend are asked to meet at CCAS South Gate at 9 a.m. to caravan to the Operations Building. Following the briefing, media will then be invited to a photo opportunity at the launch pad. Media not wishing to go to the Pad will be escorted back to the South Gate after the briefing.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS AND ACCESS
If you are not a U.S. citizen and wish to cover the launch from the press site, fax a letter on affiliation letterhead to the 45th Space Wing Public Affairs Office, fax (407) 494-7302 phone (407) 494-5933. The letter should include your name, affiliation, contact phone number and a photocopy of a photo ID.
Reporters or photographers wishing to view the launch from the press site must meet at 5 p.m. at the Cape Canaveral Pass and ID Center, located near the CCAS South Gate on Cape Road/State Road 401 (take Highway 528 and follow direction signs to Cape Canaveral).
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