Douglas Isbell
Headquarters, Washington, DC               November 25, 1996
(Phone:  202/358-1753)

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone:  407/867-2468)

Diane Ainsworth
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
(Phone:  818/354-5011)

NOTE TO EDITORS:  N96-77

MARS PATHFINDER SPACECRAFT SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH DEC. 2

     The launch of NASA's Mars Pathfinder spacecraft aboard a
McDonnell Douglas Delta II rocket is scheduled for Monday,
Dec. 2, at 2:09 a.m. EST.  This is a single instantaneous
target launch time without a second opportunity on that day.
Liftoff will occur from Pad B at Launch Complex 17 on Cape
Canaveral Air Station, FL.  There is a 24-day launch
opportunity that extends through Dec. 31.

     The Mars Pathfinder, built by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, CA, will descend through the
Martian atmosphere to land on the planet's surface on July 4,
1997. It will deploy a small instrumented rover to
investigate the terrain surrounding the spacecraft.
Together, the Mars Pathfinder and rover will investigate the
geology and elemental composition of the Martian rocks and
soil, the Martian atmosphere and surface weather.

     The Mars Pathfinder has completed final checkout and was
mated to the Delta II rocket on Nov. 21.

PRELAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE

     A prelaunch news conference is scheduled for Saturday,
Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. EST in the KSC News Center auditorium and
will be carried live on NASA Television. Participating in the
briefing will be:

Norman Haynes, Director of the Mars Exploration Directorate, JPL
Floyd Curington, NASA Launch Manager, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), FL

David Mitchell, Launch Services Manager, Goddard Space Flight Center,
    Greenbelt, MD
Rich Murphy, Flight Director, McDonnell Douglas
Don Ketterer, Program Executive, NASA Headquarters
Tony Spear, Mission Director/Project Manager, JPL
Joel Tumbiolo, Launch Weather Officer, USAF

     A post-launch news conference will be held at the KSC
News Center no earlier than two hours after launch to discuss
the countdown, launch and current state of health of the Mars
Pathfinder spacecraft.


ROVER DEMONSTRATION

     Outside of the KSC News Center, following the prelaunch
news conference, news media will be able to film and test
drive a demonstration model of Mars Pathfinder's small rover.


ACCREDITATION

    Those media without permanent accreditation who wish to
cover the launch of Delta/Mars Pathfinder including the
prelaunch news conference on L-1 day should send a letter of
request to the KSC News Center on news organization
letterhead. It should include name and Social Security number
or passport number of those wishing accreditation. Letters
should be faxed to 407/867-2692 or addressed to:

Mars Pathfinder Launch Accreditation
NASA PA-MSB
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899

     Mars Pathfinder mission badges may be picked up at the
KSC News Center on Saturday, Nov. 30.  On launch day, Mars
Pathfinder mission badges will be available at Gate 1 on Cape
Canaveral Air Station located on SR 401 prior to departure
for Press Site 1.

     STS-80 mission badges will be valid for the prelaunch
news conference on L-1 day.  However, a Delta/Mars Pathfinder
mission badge is required for all media covering the launch
from Press Site 1 on launch day.  For further information on
Mars Pathfinder launch accreditation, contact Selina Scorah
at the KSC News Center at 407/867-2468.

REMOTE CAMERAS

     Media wishing to establish remote cameras at the launch
pad should meet at the KSC News Center at 11:30 a.m. EST on
Sunday, Dec. 1, to be escorted to Launch Complex 17.

LAUNCH COVERAGE

     The evening before launch, after the mobile service
tower has been retracted from around the Delta II rocket at
Complex 17, a photo opportunity will be available for the
news media.  A convoy will depart Gate 1 on Cape Canaveral
Air Station located on State Road 401 at 5:45 p.m. EST,
Sunday, Dec. 1.

     Media covering the launch should assemble at the Gate 1
Pass & Identification Building on Cape Canaveral Air Station.
The convoy for Press Site 1 will depart at 12:30 a.m. EST.
After launch, media may leave via Gate 1 or may convoy under
escort to the KSC News Center for the post-launch press conference.

     The NASA News Center codaphone will carry Delta/Mars
Pathfinder prelaunch status reports beginning at L-3 days, on
Friday, Nov. 29, and may be dialed at 407/867-2525.


NASA TELEVISION AND V CIRCUIT COVERAGE

     NASA Television will carry the prelaunch news conference
at 11 a.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 30.  On launch day, Dec. 2,
countdown coverage will begin at midnight.

     The post-launch news conference will not be carried live
on NASA Television but will be replayed at 5:30 a.m. EST on Dec. 2.

     NASA Television is available on Spacenet 2, transponder
5, channel 9 located at 69 degrees West longitude.

     Audio coverage of Delta/Mars Pathfinder activities will
be available on the "V3" circuit which may be dialed directly
at 407/867-1260.  The "V1" and "V2" circuits
(407/867-1220 and 1240) will carry live Space Shuttle
Columbia mission audio.

                      -end-