Denver Media Event to Include Live Launch Coverage and Interviews

DENVER, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA, Lockheed Martin, and the University of Arizona are ready to take the next giant leap in NASA's Mars exploration program. A team of engineers and technicians from Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Florida and in Colorado are completing preparations for the launch of the Phoenix Mars Lander, slated for liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, Aug. 3 at 3:35 a.m. MDT (5:35 a.m. EDT). The Phoenix spacecraft was designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company near Denver, Colo., for NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND

Media are invited to be with the Phoenix team at Lockheed Martin's Waterton facility for the launch Aug. 3. Members of the Phoenix spacecraft team will be available for interviews, as well as members of the Delta II launch vehicle team from United Launch Alliance. News media should contact Joan Underwood at 303-971-7398, joan.b.underwood@lmco.com to register for the event. Attending media will meet at Lockheed Martin's Waterton facility main gate, 12257 S. Wadsworth Blvd, at 2 a.m. MDT, Aug. 3. Media who wish to broadcast live from the event should contact Joan Underwood for arrangements in advance.

BROADCAST COVERAGE OF EVENTS

On Wednesday, Aug. 1, NASA will hold a Phoenix pre-launch press conference and mission science briefing at Kennedy Space Center beginning at 12 p.m. MDT. Lockheed Martin program manager Ed Sedivy will participate in the conference. The press conference will be aired live on NASA TV. Audio of the pre-launch press conference and mission science briefing will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1260 or 321-867-7135.

On Aug. 3, television coverage of the launch will begin at 1:30 a.m. MDT and conclude after spacecraft separation from the Delta II rocket, which occurs 84 minutes after launch. The broadcast network HDNet will also carry the launch in high-definition television format from 3:20 to 4 a.m. MDT. For more information, visit http://www.hd.net or check local listings. "Mission Audio," countdown activities without NASA launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 beginning at 12:30 a.m. MDT. Audio of the NASA launch commentary will begin at 1:30 a.m. MDT and will be available on 321-867-1220, 1240, 1260. For information on receiving NASA Television, including satellite and transponder information, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/digital.html

SUPPORT GRAPHICS

At the launch media event, Lockheed Martin will distribute video and digital photographs of the Phoenix spacecraft being built and tested in its Denver facility, in addition to animation of the spacecraft operating on Mars. Photos are currently available at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/phoenixphotos.

MISSION

Phoenix is the first mission of NASA's Mars Scout Program. The spacecraft will land on the icy northern latitudes of Mars in May 2008. During its approximately 90-day mission, Phoenix will dig trenches with its robotic arm into the frozen layers of water below the surface. The spacecraft will use various on-board instruments to analyze the contents of the ice and soil; all in the search of organic compounds that are necessary for life.

Lockheed Martin built the Phoenix lander for NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The University of Arizona, Tucson, leads the Phoenix mission. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Phoenix Mars Lander for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C.

Additional information about the Phoenix Mars Lander mission is available online at: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu and http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix.

    Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6
billion.

    Contact:  Joan Underwood, 303-971-7398, joan.b.underwood@lmco.com


SOURCE  Lockheed Martin
    -0-                             07/26/2007 P
    /PRNewswire -- July 26/
    /Web site:  http://www.lockheedmartin.com
                http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix /
    (LMT)

CO:  Lockheed Martin; NASA; University of Arizona
ST:  Colorado, Arizona
IN:  ARO
SU:  MAV

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