June 13, 2006
Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769
Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-098
NASA TO SELECT SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCH DATE
NASA officials will host a news conference no earlier than 2 p.m. EDT,
Saturday, June 17, following a two-day detailed assessment of the
readiness of Space Shuttle Discovery for launch. The briefing will
air live on NASA TV from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
The news conference follows the traditional Flight Readiness Review, a
thorough assessment of preparations for the mission. The June 16-17
meeting is designed to produce a number of key decisions about
Discovery’s mission, STS-121, including selection of an official
launch date.
The specific start time of the news conference is dependent on the
meeting’s conclusion. Only reporters at Kennedy Space Center will be
able to ask questions. Participants:
– Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator
– Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
– Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager
– Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director
NASA TV’s Public, Education and Media channels are available on an
MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-6; 72 degrees
west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In
Alaska and Hawaii, they’re on AMC-7; 137 degrees west longitude,
transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. For digital
downlink and NASA TV information, including links to streaming video,
visit:
For information about the STS-121 crew and mission to the
International Space Station, visit:
-end-