Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
michael.curie@nasa.gov

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-169

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

HOUSTON -- NASA managers will hold a news conference at 12 p.m. EST
today at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the
next space shuttle mission, STS-133, and the progress of repairs
since Discovery's original launch delay Nov. 5.

The news conference follows Thursday's Space Shuttle Program
Requirements Control Board meeting. Program officials reviewed
repairs and engineering evaluations associated with cracks on two
21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, on the
shuttle's external tank.

The briefing participants are:
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager
-- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager

The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency's
website. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA centers,
including Kennedy Space Center, or by calling into a phone bridge.

To use the phone bridge, reporters must have valid media credentials
issued by a NASA center or issued specifically for the STS-133
mission. Journalists planning to use the phone bridge must contact
the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 11:45 a.m.
Newsroom personnel will verify credentials and transfer reporters to
the phone bridge. Capacity is limited and available on a first-come,
first-served basis.

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle