NASA Announces Shuttle Prelaunch Events and Countdown Details

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - News conferences, events and operating hours for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the upcoming launch of space shuttle Endeavour. The STS-123 mission to the International Space Station is set to lift off at 2:28 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 11.

On Friday, March 7, Endeavour’s seven astronauts are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at 9 p.m. EST NASA Television will provide live coverage as STS-123 Commander Dominic Gorie makes a brief statement to media. Credentialed journalists planning to cover the event must be at Kennedy’s News Center by 7:30 p.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility.

The launch countdown begins at 3 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 8 at T-32 hours. The countdown includes 27 hours and 28 minutes of built-in hold time leading to a preferred launch time of 2:28 a.m. EDT on March 11. The launch window extends an additional five minutes.

Detailed lists of countdown milestones, news briefing times and participants, and hours of operation for Kennedy’s News Center and media credentialing office are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news