Johnson Space Center, Houston (Phone: 281/483-5111)
NOTE TO EDITORS: N01-40
MEDIA BRIEFING TO DISCUSS NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION
A space shuttle mission to deliver a key component that will
enable astronauts to conduct spacewalks on the Earth-orbiting International Space Station will be the subject of briefings on Monday, June 25, from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston.
Designated mission STS-104, Space Shuttle Atlantis is
scheduled for launch no earlier than July 12 to carry a 6.5- ton Joint Airlock to the station. The airlock will permit astronauts to perform spacewalks using either American or Russian spacesuits without the presence of a visiting space shuttle.
During three spacewalks, shuttle crewmembers will install the
airlock along with four high-pressure oxygen and nitrogen tanks. This shuttle mission will be the 10th assembly mission to the International Space Station and will mark the completion of the second phase of the construction of the growing complex.
The briefings will begin with an overview of the space
station program at 9 a.m. EDT, concluding with the space shuttle crew news conference beginning at 3 p.m. EDT.
Round-robin interviews with all five crew members will follow
the joint crew conference, for reporters in attendance at Johnson, and by phone for those who make advance arrangements. The round-robin interviews will not be televised. Space may be limited. Reporters planning to attend the briefings and participate in the round-robin interviews must contact the Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281/483- 5111 by close of business Friday, June 22, 2001.
NASA Television is available on GE-2, Transponder 9C, at 85
degrees West longitude, vertical polarization, with a frequency of 3880 MHz, and audio of 6.8 MHz.
STS-104 PREFLIGHT BRIEFINGS
JUNE 25, 2001 (all times are EDT)
9 a.m. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) OVERVIEW
Tommy Holloway, ISS Program Manager Bob Cabana, (ISS) Deputy Manager for International Relations 10 a.m. STS-104 MISSION OVERVIEW Paul Hill, STS-104 Lead Flight Director Mark Kirasich, STS-104 ISS Lead Flight Director
Noon NASA TELEVISION VIDEO FILE (from NASA Headquarters)
12:30 p.m. JOINT AIRLOCK BRIEFING
Hubert Brasseaux, STS-104 Launch Package Manager Peggy Guirgis, STS-104 Joint Airlock EVA Systems Lead Christine Tyrell, Lead ISS Environmental Systems Officer
2 p.m. STS-104 SPACEWALK BRIEFING
Allen Flynt, Acting Manager, EVA Project Office Oscar Koehler, STS-104 Lead EVA Officer
3 p.m. STS-104 CREW NEWS CONFERENCE
Steve Lindsey, Commander Charlie Hobaugh, Pilot Mike Gernhardt, Mission Specialist 1 (MS 1) Janet Kavandi, Mission Specialist 2 (MS 2) Jim Reilly, Mission Specialist 3 (MS 3)