Contact: Keith Takahashi McDonnell Douglas (714) 896-1302

97-1

A McDonnell Douglas Delta II expendable rocket will launch the first three IRIDIUM system satellites for Iridium LLC on Jan. 8 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The 48-minute launch window opens at 5:35 a.m. and closes at 6:23 a.m. PST.

Those media wishing to cover the media conference and launch from the press site should fax a letter on affiliation letterhead to the Vandenberg Air Force Base Public Affairs Office, fax: (805) 734-8232, ext. 6-8303; phone (805) 734-8232, ext. 6-3595. The letter should include your name, affiliation and contact phone number.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and you wish to cover the launch, please contact the Air Force Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg for additional requirements.

Media wishing to place remote cameras for launch coverage should assemble Jan. 7 after 5 p.m. at the Visitor Control station at the main gate for escort to Space Launch Complex 2.

On Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. there will be a photo opportunity for the media at Space Launch Complex 2, where the mobile service tower will have been retracted.

Those interested in taking photos of the launch vehicle on the pad should contact the Air Force Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg for escort reservations. Media with prior reservations are asked to assemble at the Visitor Control station at the main gate at 8:15 p.m. for escort to the launch site.

Media wishing to cover the launch are asked to meet Jan. 8 at the Visitor Control station at the main gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base at 4:15 a.m. PST to caravan to Space Launch Complex 2.

Two hours after liftoff, following launch and spacecraft separation, there will be a post-launch media briefing at Vandenberg Center. Representatives from McDonnell Douglas, Motorola and Iridium will be present.

Anne Toulouse (714) 896-6211, pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 1374698; and Christine Nelson (714) 896-1466, pager

(800) 759-8888 PIN 1738783; fax (714) 896-1308; will be the

on-site McDonnell Douglas representatives.

McDonnell Douglas contact Keith Takahashi may be reached at the Huntington Beach facility at the following numbers:

(714) 896-1302, pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 1375719, and fax

(714) 896-1308.

Iridium, Inc. contacts John Windolph (202) 408-3834, pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 2279334; and Michele Lyle (202) 408-3834, pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 1133469; will be the on-site representatives.

Stephanie Nowack, Motorola Satellite Communications Division contact, (602) 732-2012, pager (800) 759-8888 PIN 1653614 will be the on-site representative.

The 24-hour McDonnell Douglas Launch hotline number is (714) 896-4770.

Jan. 6, 1997

Archived Press Releases