Space Shuttle Crew Set To Return To Earth Friday

July 29, 2009

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100


Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468


MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-141

SPACE SHUTTLE CREW SET TO RETURN TO EARTH FRIDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member
crew are scheduled to return to Earth on Friday after a 16-day
mission. There are two landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida at 10:48 a.m. and 12:23 p.m. EDT.

NASA will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting
Endeavour and its crew to land. If weather prevents a return to
Kennedy on Friday, the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base
in California will be activated Saturday for consideration as well.
For recorded updates about landing, call 321-867-2525.

Approximately two hours after landing, NASA officials will hold a
media briefing to discuss the mission. The participants will be:
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for the Space Operations
Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington
- Keiji Tachikawa, president, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Benoit Marcotte, director genenal, operations, Canadian Space
Agency

- Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager
- Pete Nickolenko, STS-127 launch director

After touchdown in Florida, the astronauts will undergo physical
examinations and meet with their families. The crew is expected to
hold a news conference at approximately 3:15 p.m. Both news events
will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's Web site.

The Kennedy news center will open for landing activities at 7 a.m.
Friday and close at 7 p.m., or one hour after the last media event.
STS-127 media badges are in effect through landing. The media
accreditation building on State Road 3 will be open Friday from 7
a.m. to 9 a.m. The last bus will depart from the news center for the
Shuttle Landing Facility one hour before landing.

If the landing is diverted to Edwards on Saturday, news media should
call the Dryden public affairs office at 661-276-3449 for additional
information. Dryden has limited facilities available for use by
previously accredited journalists.

The NASA News Twitter feed is updated throughout the shuttle mission
and landing. To access the feed, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-127 mission and
accomplishments, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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