The launch of Aqua, NASA's latest Earth Science satellite, is scheduled for Thursday, May 2, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The primary role of Aqua, as the name implies, is to gather information about water in the Earth's system. Equipped with six state-of-the-art instruments, Aqua will collect data on global precipitation, evaporation and the cycling of water -- information vital to better understand and protect the Earth.
In preparation for the launch, NASA will hold a mission media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Monday, April 22, in the James Webb Memorial Auditorium, NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street SW, Washington.
Speakers for the Aqua mission briefing will be:
* Ghassem R. Asrar, Associate Administrator for Earth Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington
* Claire Parkinson, Aqua project scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
* Phil Sabelhaus, Aqua project manager, Goddard Space Flight Center
The briefing will be carried live on NASA Television with two-way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the briefing from participating NASA centers. Reporters must coordinate in advance with NASA Center Newsrooms to participate remotely. NASA TV is broadcast on satellite GE-2, transponder 9C, at 85 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization, frequency 3880 MHz, audio of 6.8 MHz. The briefing also will available on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/ntvweb.html