August 10, 2009

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 katherine trinidad@nasa gov

Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 allard beutel@nasa gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-149

INDIANA ASTRONAUT TO FLY ON NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, who was born in Portland, Ind , and considers Montpelier, Ind , his hometown, will serve as the pilot on space shuttle Discovery's next mission to the International Space Station

Discovery is targeted to launch at 1:36 a m EDT, Aug 25, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida To cover the launch on-site, U S reporters must request Kennedy credentials online at:

https://media ksc nasa gov

Ford is one of seven astronauts who will fly on Discovery's STS-128 mission The 13-day flight will deliver science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and a treadmill named after comedian Stephen Colbert The name Colbert received the most entries in NASA's online poll to name the station's Node 3 NASA named the node Tranquility

Ford attended the University of Notre Dame and received his Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering in 1982 In 1989, he received a Master of Science degree in international relations from Troy State University in Troy, Ala ; and in 1994, a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla He earned his doctorate in astronautical engineering in 1997 at the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

For Ford's complete biography, visit:

http://www jsc nasa gov/Bios/htmlbios/ford-ka html

For the latest information about the STS-128 mission and crew, visit:

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

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