NASA Teleconference to Replace Televised Dawn Mission Briefing

June 25, 2007

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726

MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-72

NASA TELECONFERENCE TO REPLACE TELEVISED DAWN MISSION BRIEFING

WASHINGTON - NASA has scheduled a media teleconference at 2:30 p.m.
EDT, Tuesday, June 26, in place of the previously planned media
science briefing about the Dawn mission. Dawn will explore the two
largest objects in the asteroid belt in an effort to answer questions
about the formation of our solar system.

Mission managers will discuss several issues that need to be resolved
before Dawn's July 7-11 launch window. The briefing participants are:

-- Todd May, deputy associate administrator for programs, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington

-- Jim Adams, deputy director, Planetary Science Division, Science
Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington

Media interested in participating in the teleconference should call
888-398-6118. The passcode is "Dawn." Reporters who want to listen
only may call 321-867-1220, 1240 or 1260.

Live audio of the teleconference will be streamed at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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Shuttle Atlantis Crew Returns Home After Successful Mission

June 22, 2007

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

RELEASE: 07-142

SHUTTLE ATLANTIS CREW RETURNS HOME AFTER SUCCESSFUL MISSION

EDWARDS, Calif. -- The space shuttle Atlantis and its crew are home
after completing a 14-day journey of more than 5.8 million miles in
space. Atlantis' STS-117 mission successfully increased the power
capability of the International Space Station, preparing for the
future delivery of European and Japanese laboratories.

Atlantis' Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission
specialists Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John
"Danny" Olivas and Sunita Williams landed at Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif., Friday at 3:49 p.m. EDT.

Atlantis' crew attached the new S3/S4 solar array truss segment on the
right side of the station's backbone, deployed a new set of solar
arrays, and retracted the Port 6 starboard solar array back into its
box. The station has a new look with two symmetrical solar panels
mounted on each end of the station's truss.

Reilly, Olivas, Swanson and Forrester, with the help of crewmates,
made four spacewalks to complete the construction tasks. They
activated the truss segment and the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint, which
allows the new arrays to track the sun, and helped fold the Port 6
array. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired a 4-by-6 inch
raised corner of a thermal blanket on the port side Orbital
Maneuvering System pod. Aerodynamic forces during Atlantis' ascent
lifted the blanket.

While the crew worked in space, ground teams were troubleshooting a
problem with Russian computers that help control the station's
attitude. Russian specialists worked closely with teams in the United
States to recover the computer capabilities.

NASA astronaut and station Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson, who
launched with the crew aboard Atlantis, remained on the station. He
is scheduled to return home aboard space shuttle Discovery on a
mission targeted for launch in October. Anderson replaced Williams,
who set a new record for a single, long-duration spaceflight by a
woman with 195 days. She arrived at the station in December 2006
aboard space shuttle Discovery.

STS-117 was the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the
station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four missions
planned for 2007.

Several inspections in orbit revealed no critical damage, and
Atlantis' thermal protection system was declared safe for re-entry on
flight day 13. Weather concerns prevented the crew from returning to
NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., the primary end-of-mission landing
site. In 7-10 days, Atlantis will be transported approximately 2,500
miles from California to Florida on the back of a modified 747 jumbo
jet. Once at Kennedy, Atlantis will be separated from the aircraft to
begin immediate processing for its next flight, targeted for December
2007.

With Atlantis and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the next
phase of International Space Station assembly. Preparations continue
for space shuttle Endeavour's launch, targeted for August, on the
STS-118 mission to deliver the S5 truss segment to the station.

For more on the STS-117 mission and the upcoming STS-118 mission,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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NASA Awards Payload Processing Contract

June 22, 2007

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

CONTRACT RELEASE: C07-26

NASA AWARDS PAYLOAD PROCESSING CONTRACT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Launch Services Program has awarded a
pair of indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts to
Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., and Spaceport Systems
International in Colorado Springs, Colo. The companies will provide
the necessary facilities to perform payload processing services for
NASA missions launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The
aggregate value of available firm-fixed-price orders under the two
contracts could be worth up to $35 million over a maximum of four
years, which includes two 1-year options.

Astrotech and Spaceport Systems International will use their
respective Vandenberg facilities to support the final assembly of
spacecraft and encapsulate them before they are taken to the launch
pad. While processing requirements differ depending on the spacecraft
and mission, they usually include final assembly and testing,
integration with a third stage or adapter, propellant loading and
spin balancing. Such tasks typically begin about three months before
the scheduled launch.

Astrotech is a subsidiary of SPACEHAB, Inc., Webster, Texas, and
operates payload processing facilities in Titusville and at
Vandenberg. The company was incorporated in 1984 as a commercial
launch payload processor.

Spaceport Systems International is in partnership with ITT
Corporation, White Plains, N.Y. The company's facilities are used to
process payloads for NASA and commercial interests.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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Simulated Trip to Mars Is Planned

Simulated Trip to Mars Is Planned from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- If you have planetary vision, want to be on the cutting edge and don't get bored easily, the European Space Agency may be looking for you. It is looking for 12 volunteers for a simulated mission to Mars that will last up to 520 days in "extreme isolation and confinement."[...]

NASA Trying Again to Land Space Shuttle

NASA Trying Again to Land Space Shuttle from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- NASA managers said they plan to land the space shuttle Atlantis safely Friday, but the weather would determine the time and location.[...]

Moon jobs will tax mental health of workers

Moon jobs will tax mental health of workers from PhysOrg.com

Think your job is tough? Can’t wait for summer vacation to “get away from it all”? Just wait, says a Rutgers University—Camden researcher. In the not-too-distant future, some jobs will challenge workers placed far, far away from it all. On the moon, in fact.[...]

NASA Authorizes Contract for Ares I Materials

June 21, 2007

Beth Dickey/Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087/1272

Kim Newton
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034
CONTRACT RELEASE: C07-25

NASA AUTHORIZES CONTRACT FOR ARES I MATERIALS

WASHINGTON -- NASA has authorized a contract with a maximum value of
$16.7 million with Alcoa North American Rolled Products of
Bettendorf, Iowa, to supply aluminum lithium plates and metal ingots
for early development of the Ares I crew launch vehicles upper stage.
The firm fixed-price contract has a period of performance through
Aug. 5, 2008.

Ares I is an in-line, two-stage rocket that will transport to low
Earth orbit the Orion crew exploration vehicle containing up to six
astronauts. The first stage will consist of a single reusable solid
rocket booster similar to those used on the space shuttle, with an
additional fifth segment. The second, or upper, stage will consist of
a J-2X main engine fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
propellants.

For information about NASA's Constellation Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/constellation

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