Aug 24, 2006

Michael Braukus/Beth Dickey Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/2087

Kelly Humphries Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-137

NASA ANNOUNCES CONTRACTOR FOR ORION CREW EXPLORATION VEHICLE

NASA Exploration Systems' managers will host a press conference at 4 p m EDT Thursday, Aug 31, to announce the prime contractor to design, develop, and build Orion, America's next human spacecraft

The press conference will be in the NASA headquarters auditorium, 300 E Street S W , Washington It will air live on the Web and on NASA TV Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations Reporters should coordinate with local agency centers by 4 p m EDT Wednesday, Aug 30 for access information

Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate Scott Horowitz, Exploration Deputy Associate Administrator Doug Cooke, Constellation Program Manager Jeff Hanley, and CEV Project Manager Caris A (Skip) Hatfield will announce the selection and discuss the program

Orion is the vehicle NASA is developing to carry a new generation of explorers back to the moon and later to Mars Orion will succeed the space shuttle as NASA's primary vehicle for human space exploration Orion's first flight with astronauts aboard is planned for no later than 2014 to the International Space Station Its first flight to the moon is planned for no later than 2020

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ntv

For information about NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate visit:

http://www nasa gov/exploration

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