NASA Sets Briefings to Preview Next Space Shuttle Mission

Feb. 6, 2007

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111

MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-018

NASA SETS BRIEFINGS TO PREVIEW NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

HOUSTON - NASA will discuss the next space shuttle mission during a
day-long series of media briefings from the Johnson Space Center
beginning at 8 a.m. CST, Thursday, Feb. 15. The briefings will be
broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's Internet homepage.
Questions also will be taken from participating NASA sites.

Space shuttle Atlantis' 11-day mission, designated STS-117, is
targeted for launch Mar. 15. The mission will continue construction
of the International Space Station, launching a third set of solar
arrays, batteries and associated electronics to power the station.
The crew will install and extend the new set of arrays and retract
the second half of another set. These tasks continue the solar array
work begun during the final two shuttle missions of 2006. The
completed International Space Station will have four solar arrays.

Following the briefings, members of the shuttle crew will be available
for a series of round-robin interviews. Media planning to attend or
participate in the interviews must contact the Johnson newsroom,
281-483-5111, by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Atlantis will be commanded by Marine Col. Rick Sturckow. Air Force
Col. Lee Archambault will be pilot. The mission specialists are
retired Army Col. Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John "Danny"
Olivas and Jim Reilly.

The schedule of briefings are (all times Central):

8 a.m. -- Space Shuttle and Space Station Program Overview
9:30 a.m. -- STS-117 Mission Overview
11 a.m. -- NASA TV Video File
11:30 a.m. -- STS-117 Spacewalk Overview
1 p.m. -- STS-117 Crew News Conference

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-117 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

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