April 2, 2012

George H Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 george h diller@nasa gov

Michael Braukus Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1979 michael j braukus@nasa gov

Josh Byerly/Kelly Humphries Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 josh byerly@nasa gov kelly o humphries@nasa gov

Kirstin Brost Grantham Space Exploration Technologies, Hawthorne, Calif 202-649-2716 Kirstin@spacex com

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-057

NASA TO HOLD BRIEFING PREVIEWING SPACEX MISSION TO SPACE STATION

HOUSTON -- NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will hold a media briefing on Monday, April 16, to preview the SpaceX demonstration mission to the International Space Station, currently scheduled for launch April 30

The briefing will immediately follow a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) conducted by senior NASA managers, space station partners and SpaceX officials The review likely will conclude in the early afternoon The briefing will be broadcast live on NASA Television and on the agency's website

During the flight, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of checkout procedures, which will test and prove its systems in advance of the rendezvous with the space station The primary objectives for the flight include a fly-under of the station at a distance of 1 5 miles (2 5 kilometers) to validate the operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to abort the rendezvous

If the checkout procedures go well, Dragon will perform the rendezvous while the station crew works inside the complex to grapple the vehicle with the station's robotic arm Dragon will be berthed to the Earth-facing side of the Harmony node At the end of the mission, the crew will reverse the process, detaching Dragon from the station, after which Dragon will return to Earth and be recovered

Briefing participants include: -- William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations -- Michael Suffredini, International Space Station program manager -- Alan Lindenmoyer, Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program manager -- Elon Musk, SpaceX chief executive officer and chief designer -- Holly Ridings, NASA flight director

Reporters can ask questions from participating NASA centers, including the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, or via telephone by contacting the Johnson Space Center newsroom 15 minutes before the start of the briefing at 281-483-5111

For those attending in person, the deadline for reporters to request credentials at Johnson is Monday, April 9, for international residents and Friday, April 13, for U S citizens

Media can follow updates on the progress of the FRR and briefing start time by following NASA on Twitter at:

http://www twitter com/NASA

For more information on the flight, visit:

http://www nasa gov/spacex

For more information on the International Space Station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

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

http://www nasa gov/ntv

-end-

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