June 14, 2011

Michael Braukus/J D Harrington Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979/5241 michael j braukus@nasa gov / j d harrington@nasa gov

Josh Byerly Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 josh byerly@nasa gov MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-121

NASA SPACECRAFT TO MAKE CROSS COUNTRY VOYAGE

WASHINGTON -- NASA is inviting the public to view a test version of the agency's next spacecraft that will carry humans into deep space

The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, which NASA announced last month would be the agency's deep space crew module based on the original work on the Orion capsule, will make three stops as it travels by truck from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The planned stops are June 15-16 at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz ; June 19-20 at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas; and June 24-25 at the Tallahassee Challenger Learning Center in Florida The module also will be on display June 29-July 4 at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

During a test flight in New Mexico last year, a new launch abort system propelled the spacecraft off the launch pad to a speed of almost 445 mph in three seconds The spacecraft then parachuted to the desert floor

The test module eventually will be moved to Kennedy's Operations and Checkout Facility for further study The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle's propulsion, life support, thermal protection and avionics systems ultimately will enable astronauts to travel for extended deep space missions and return safely to Earth

Reporters interested in seeing the test spacecraft or scheduling interviews should contact Dan Huot at daniel g huot@nasa gov or call the Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281-483-5111

The public can contact each of the sites directly for information on seeing the spacecraft and hours of operation For more information on the each of the museums, visit:

http://www pimaair org

http://www thestoryoftexas com/the_museum/about html

http://www challengertlh com/

To learn more about the development of the vehicle, visit:

http://www nasa gov/exploration/systems/mpcv

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