Date: January 25th 2008

Jan 24, 2008

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749 katherine trinidad@nasa gov

James Hartsfield Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 james a hartsfield@nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-018

NASA SETS STATION, SHUTTLE BRIEFINGS AND SPACEWALK COVERAGE

HOUSTON - NASA will hold four media briefings next week to discuss International Space Station activities and provide a status of launch preparations for space shuttle mission STS-122 NASA Television also will provide live coverage of a Jan 30 space station spacewalk, featuring Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Dan Tani

The first briefing at 1 p m CST on Monday, Jan 28, will preview the spacewalk NASA TV coverage of the spacewalk will begin at 3 a m on Jan 30 and after its completion, a briefing will be held at approximately 1 p m During the spacewalk astronauts will replace a motor that enables one of the station's solar arrays to pivot toward the sun The motor experienced electrical failures in early December 2007

Also on Jan 30, space shuttle managers will hold a briefing no earlier than 2 p m , following a meeting that will set an official launch date for shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 flight Liftoff currently is targeted for Feb 7

On Thursday, Jan 31, officials from NASA and the European Space Agency will preview the maiden launch and docking of the new European "Jules Verne" Automated Transfer Vehicle The ATV is an unmanned cargo ship for the space station It is scheduled to lift off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, no earlier than Feb 22 The Jan 31 briefing will follow an ATV readiness review by officials gathered at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston The ATV will augment the Russian Progress ships that deliver supplies to the space station

All of the space station briefings will originate from Johnson The space shuttle status briefing on Jan 30 will originate from NASA Headquarters in Washington Questions will be taken from media at participating NASA locations

Briefing schedule, all times CST:

Monday, Jan 28: 1 p m Spacewalk preview briefing Kirk Shireman, International Space Station deputy program manager Holly Ridings, Expedition 16 lead flight director Kieth Johnson, International Space Station spacewalk officer

Wednesday, Jan 30: 3 a m Expedition 16 spacewalk coverage begins

1 p m Post-spacewalk briefing Kwatsi Alibaruho, International Space Station flight director Kieth Johnson, International Space Station spacewalk officer

2 p m Space shuttle status briefing Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager

Thursday, Jan 31: 3 p m Automated Transfer Vehicle preflight briefing Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager Alan Thirkettle, ESA International Space Station Program manager John Ellwood, ESA ATV mission manager Bob Chesson, head, ESA Human Spaceflight and Exploration Operations

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

http://www nasa gov/ntv

For information about the upcoming STS-122 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

For information about the space station and the Expedition 16 crew, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

-end-

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