Date: October 2nd 2007

Oct 1, 2007

John Yembrick Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0602 john yembrick-1@nasa gov

Kylie Clem Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 kylie s clem@nasa gov

RELEASE: 07-217

NASA ASSIGNS CREW FOR SPACE STATION ASSEMBLY MISSION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has assigned the space shuttle crew for Endeavour's STS-126 mission, targeted for launch in September 2008 The flight will deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex

Veteran space flier Navy Capt Christopher J Ferguson will command Endeavour Air Force Lt Col Eric A Boe will serve as the pilot The mission specialists are Navy Cmdr Stephen G Bowen, NASA astronaut Joan E Higginbotham, Army Lt Col Robert S Kimbrough and Navy Capt Heidemarie M Stefanyshyn-Piper Boe, Bowen and Kimbrough will be making their first spaceflight

STS-126 will be the second spaceflight for Ferguson and Stefanyshyn-Piper, who flew together on STS-115 in September 2006 It also is the second flight for Higginbotham, who flew on STS-116 in December 2006

Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, a second treadmill, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware

A native of Philadelphia, Ferguson served as pilot of the shuttle Atlantis for STS-115 He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia, and a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif He was selected as an astronaut in 1998

Boe was born in Miami and grew up in Atlanta He has a bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering from the U S Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo , and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta He was selected as an astronaut in 2000

Bowen was born in Cohasset, Mass He has a bachelor's degree from the U S Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md , and a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Bowen also was selected as an astronaut in 2000 He was previously named to the STS-124 crew but has been reassigned to STS-126 The change will allow room for the STS-124 mission to rotate a space station resident, who will be named later

A native of Chicago, Higginbotham flew on STS-116 She has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and master's degrees in both management and space systems from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne She was selected as an astronaut in 1996

Kimbrough was born in Killeen, Texas, and grew up in Smyrna, Ga He has a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the U S Military Academy, West Point, N Y , and a master's degree in operations research from the Georgia Institute of Technology He was selected as an astronaut in 2004

Stefanyshyn-Piper was born in St Paul, Minn She conducted two spacewalks on STS-115 She has a bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology She was selected as an astronaut in 1996

Video of the STS-126 crew members will air on NASA Television's Video File For downlink and scheduling information and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www nasa gov/ntv

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www jsc nasa gov/Bios

For more information about NASA's Space Shuttle Program, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

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