Anderson Will Be The Shuttle Reporter

Anderson Cooper named lead CNN reporter for space shuttle launch

Jackie Kass, TV Examiner
July 7, 2011

CNN announced yesterday that Anderson Cooper has been named as lead reporter for its upcoming coverage of the final space shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral. CNN is set to air a two-hour special called Space Shuttle: Final Mission on its U.S. and international stations from 8:00-10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, July 8th. Former astronauts Cady Coleman, Senator Bill Nelson, and historian Douglas Brinkley will join Cooper for CNN’s Atlantis launch coverage. Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch at 11:26 a.m.

CNN’s coverage of the final space shuttle launch will begin when American Morning anchor, Al Velshi reports live from Kennedy Space Center. Anchor Brooke Baldwin and meteorologist Chad Meyers will report live from inside the Visitor Complex and correspondent Carol Costello will capture the celebratory mood by reporting from parties along the beach. In addition to its live coverage headed by Anderson Cooper, CNN will air pieces about the history of the U.S. space shuttle program.

Viewers can catch the final space shuttle launch, even if they're away from home.CNN will live stream the final shuttle launch on CNN.com/live and CNN apps. Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, and mission specialists Sandy Mangus and Rex Walheim are flying the final mission of NASA’s space shuttle program.

To catch Anderson Cooper’s coverage of the last space shuttle launch, tune into CNN at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 8th. NASA is going full steam ahead with its launch plans, despite a 70% chance of rain and thunderstorms. More than 750,000 spectators are expected to converge on Florida to watch the launch in person.