News conferences, events and operating hours for the NASA Kennedy Space Center News Center are set for the Aug. 27 launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-115 mission to the International Space Station.

On Thursday, Aug. 24, the six STS-115 crew members are scheduled to arrive at Kennedy at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Media planning to cover the event must be at the Kennedy News Center by 10:15 a.m. for transportation to the Shuttle Landing Facility. Commander Brent Jett will make a brief statement to the media. This event and his remarks will be carried live on NASA TV.

In addition to daily countdown status briefings on NASA TV starting on Thursday, there will be a news conference two days before launch. Also, an Exploration status briefing will be held the day before launch.

Complete listings of news briefing times, participants, Kennedy News Center and media credentialing hours of operation are available in the online version of this media advisory at:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_M06134_115_pre-launch.html

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-115 crew and mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

STS-115 BRIEFING AND EVENTS SCHEDULE

(All times Eastern)

-- All briefings are inside the Kennedy Press Site auditorium and will be carried live on NASA TV unless otherwise noted. Questions will only be taken from reporters at Kennedy.

L-3 Days - Thursday, Aug. 24

10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Steve Payne, NASA test director
- Robbie Ashley, STS-115 payload manager
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

11:15 a.m. - STS-115 crew arrival at Shuttle Landing Facility

6 p.m. - Launch countdown officially begins (Not on NASA TV)

L-2 Days - Friday, Aug. 25

10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Pete Nicolenko, NASA test director
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

4 p.m. (No Earlier Than) - STS-115 Launch Readiness News Conference
- LeRoy Cain, launch integration manager, Space Shuttle Program
- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station program manager
- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
- Benot Marcotte, director of the Canadian Space Agency's Station Program
- U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kaleb Nordgren, 45th Weather Squadron

L-1 Day - Saturday, Aug. 26

10 a.m. - Countdown Status Briefing
- Jeff Spaulding, NASA test director
- Robbie Ashely, STS-115 payload manager
- Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer

1 p.m. - Exploration Update Briefing
- Jeff Hanley, manager, Constellation Program
- Skip Hatfield, manager, Crew Exploration Vehicle Project
- Steve Cook, manager, Exploration Launch Projects

2 p.m. - Canadian Space Agency Briefing (Not on NASA TV)

7 p.m. - Rotating Service Structure moves to launch position (Not on NASA TV)

Launch Day - Sunday, Aug. 27

6:30 a.m. - Tanking commences (Not on NASA TV)

10:30 a.m. - Live launch commentary begins

Launch Day Crew Activities: (Times may vary slightly)
6:30 a.m. -- Crew wakes up (Not on NASA TV)
10:55 a.m. -- Crew photo opportunity
12 noon - Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) (Not on NASA TV)
12:30 p.m. -- Astronauts don flight suits
12:40 p.m. -- Depart for launch pad
1:10 p.m. -- Arrive at white room and begin ingress
2:25 p.m. -- Close crew hatch
4:30 p.m. -- Launch

Launch + 1 hour - Post-launch News Conference
- Michael Griffin, NASA administrator
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- John Shannon, chairman, Mission Management Team
- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

KSC News Center office hours for STS-115
(Hours may be adjusted for in-flight events)

Thursday, Aug. 24 (Launch minus 3 days) 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 25 (Launch minus 2 days) 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26 (Launch minus 1 day) 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 27 (Launch) Flight day 1 5 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Aug. 28 - Sept. 6 Flight days 2 - 11 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (except weekend and holiday)
Thursday, Sept. 7 (Landing) Flight day 12 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

(Times may be adjusted in real time depending on mission events and timelines.)

Media Badging Schedule

News media may obtain STS-115 mission credentials from the Kennedy Space Center Pass and Identification office on State Road 3. Office hours of operation are listed below.

Tuesday, Aug. 22: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 23: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 24: 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 25: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 26: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 27: 5 a.m. - 2 p.m.

News media are required to be under NASA Public Affairs escort at all times while at Kennedy Space Center, except when at the News Center or the Complex 39 cafeteria. No photography is allowed anywhere other than the press site unless prior permission is granted by NASA Public Affairs.

News media are allowed at the press site only when Public Affairs personnel are on duty and the NASA News Center is open.