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: M09-151

TWO CALIFORNIA ASTRONAUTS TO FLY ON NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA's next space shuttle mission will carry two California- born astronauts into orbit

Veteran space flier Rick Sturckow, from Lakeside, Calif , will command shuttle Discovery's mission to the International Space Station Jose Hernandez, who considers Stockton, Calif , his hometown, will make his first trip to space

Discovery, with its crew of seven astronauts, 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

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

Sturckow graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa, Calif He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif , in 1984 Hernandez earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif , in 1984, and a Master of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California-Santa Barbara in 1986

Hernandez is providing insights about his mission preparation on Twitter in English and Spanish His Twitter account is astro_jose, and he can be followed at:

http://www twitter com/astro_jose

For Hernandez's complete biography, visit:

http://www jsc nasa gov/Bios/htmlbios/hernandez-jm html

For Sturckow's complete biography, visit:

http://www jsc nasa gov/Bios/htmlbios/sturckow html

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

http://www nasa gov/shuttle

-end-

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