ISS gets ready for reurn to flight

Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington August 27, 2004
(Phone: 202/358-1272)

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-9284)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N04-128

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION GETS READY FOR RETURN TO FLIGHT

Media are invited to a daylong workshop focused on the
International Space Station's (ISS) role in Return to Flight.
The event will be held Monday, Sept. 13, at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center (KSC), Fla.

There are busy months ahead for the International Space
Station, as it prepares to welcome the Space Shuttle back to
orbit as early as March of next year. Major spare Station
parts and other hardware are arriving for processing at KSC,
scientists are honing their research objectives to meet the
goals of the Vision for Space Exploration, and program
managers are working toward the goal of completing Station
assembly.

The workshop will begin at 10 a.m. EDT and will be hosted by
Bill Gerstenmaier, ISS program manager, and Michael Hawes,
special assistant to the associate administrator for space
operations.

Reporters will have the opportunity to:
-- discuss plans for Space Station assembly and
utilization once the Space Shuttle returns to flight;
-- tour the Space Station Processing facility and ask
questions about hardware being prepared for flight;
-- hear details on the new science research priorities
for Station;
-- visit the Space Life Sciences lab, where Space
Station experiments are processed for flight and where
biological and life sciences research is conducted in support
of future human exploration of space;
-- have lunch with recent Space Station astronauts, who
will discuss their experiences living and working in space.

Media who do not currently possess KSC credentials should
submit their request via the on-line accreditation Web site at
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov/.

Due to limited space, media planning to attend the workshop
must contact the KSC Press Site at 321/867-2468 by close of
business Sept. 9.

Since the Space Station Processing Facility is an operational
facility that deals in hazardous materials, all who
participate in the tour must be properly dressed in long pants
and closed-toe shoes with low heels. Sleeveless shirts are not
allowed.

Lunch will be made available for purchase.

For the latest information on NASA's Return to Flight efforts
and the International Space Station on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info