N° 57–2000: Press Accreditation Procedures for Launch of First Space Station Crew from Baikonur Cosmodrome

Expedition One Commander Bill Shepherd (US), Soyuz Commander Yuri Gidzenko (Russia) and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev (Russia) will arrive at the Space Station two days later for docking and the start of non-stop human habitation of the outpost. T

he Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) and RSC Energia are arranging a news media trip to Baikonur from 27 to 30 October to cover the crew's pre-flight and launch activities. News media wishing to cover the launch must request press accreditation no later than 02 October as follows.

European news media representatives should send a fax to:

Mr. Franco Bonacina/Mrs Anne-Marie Remondin Media Relations
European Space Agency:
Paris, France
Tel: 33 1 5369 7155
Fax: 33 1 5369 7690
e-mail: fbonacin@hq.esa.fr

e-mail: aremondi@hq.esa.fr The fax must be on the organisation's letterhead with the media representative's full name, title, organisation, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers, passport number with issuance and expiration dates, date and place of birth, citizenship and city where the visa will be issued, and the list of equipment with the cost and weight of each item for customs. All media representatives also must fax a copy of the first page of his or her passport along with this information.

US, Canadian and Japanese news media representatives should contact their space agency's public affairs offices to request press accreditation as follows.

US National Air and Space Administration (NASA):
Ms. Debra Rahn
PAO for International Relations
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546
Fax: 202/358-4329
e-mail: debra.rahn@hq.nasa.gov

Canadian Space Agency:
Anna Kapiniari

Manager, Public and Media Relations
St. Hubert, Quebec, Canada
Tel: 450/926-4350
Fax: 450/926-4352
e-mail: Kapiniari@space.gc.ca

National Space Development Agency of Japan:
Keiichi Yamada
Public Relations Office
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: 81-3-3438-6104
Fax: 81-3-5402-6513
e-mail: yamada.keiichi@nasda.go.jp

Each space agency will submit a list of its news media to RSC Energia and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency.

News media representatives are responsible for their own visas. A dual-entry visa is required for anyone travelling to Baikonur. Russian visa forms are available via Russian embassies and consulates throughout Europe. RSC Energia will provide letters of invitation for news media requiring visas. Russian visa forms are available via Russian embassies and consulates throughout Europe.

Cost: $ 2,200 U.S. dollars per person. This includes round-trip bus transportation from the Russian Aviation and Space Agency to Vnukovo 3 airport, round-trip air transportation from Moscow to Baikonur, hotel accommodations, local transportation, and meals. Upon receipt of the press accreditation request, RSC Energia will send individual invoices confirming the cost of the trip and the bank information for transferring the money. Payment must be transferred by 16 October 2000.

Tour of Baikonur: Arrangements have been made for the news media to cover the rollout of the Soyuz-TM to the launch pad and its pad preparations; a tour of Energia and Buran facilities; and a crew news conference the day before launch and launch day activities involving the crew.

Communication Equipment: Satellite phones are prohibited at the Soyuz launch site and may be confiscated by authorities. GSM 900 telephones are approved for use at Baikonur. GSM 900 can be purchased or leased in Moscow.

Baikonur Communication Centre: Located in the Soyuz Integration Building (Building 254). There are international telephones, data lines and fax machines available.