March 10, 2005 Allard Beutel Headquarters, Washington (Phone: 202/358-4769) James Hartsfield Johnson Space Center, Houston (Phone 281/483-5111) MEDIA ADVISORY: M05-035 NASA ANNOUNCES SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT PREVIEW NASA has scheduled briefings, interview opportunities and demonstrations at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) April 4-7. The events will preview operations to return the Space Shuttle to flight and conduct the next International Space Station crew exchange. Activities include news media briefings about safety enhancements and improvements for the first Space Shuttle flight since the Columbia accident; an in-flight Space Station crew news conference; a preview of the next Station crew launch and landing; and opportunities to watch the next Shuttle crew train and describe its mission, designated STS-114. The Space Shuttle Discovery launch window is May 15 to June 3. NASA has scheduled a news conference with the seven astronauts of STS-114: Commander Eileen Collins; Pilot Jim Kelly; Mission Specialists Soichi Noguchi of Japan, Steve Robinson, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Charlie Camarda. Round-robin interview opportunities will be available with individual astronauts, but direct participation may be limited to networks, wire services and other major media. Decisions regarding participation in the interviews will be based on the number of requests received and will be made about one week before the event. Media must be present at JSC to participate in the interviews. International media representatives planning to attend, regardless of citizenship, must contact the JSC Newsroom at: 281/483-5111 before 6 p.m. EDT March 21 to arrange credentials. Domestic media must contact the JSC Newsroom by 6 p.m. EDT March 28. When contacting JSC to arrange credentials, media should indicate their interest in participating in the round-robin crew interviews. All news briefings will be carried live on NASA TV. Questions will be taken only from media at JSC. The schedule of activities includes (all times Eastern): Monday, April 4 -- International Space Station Crew Exchange 1 p.m. International Space Station Crew In-flight News Conference 2 p.m. International Space Station Expedition 11 Preview 3 p.m. International Space Station Expedition 10 Retrospective Tuesday, April 5 -- Space Shuttle Return to Flight Safety Enhancements
9 a.m. Shuttle, Station Program Overviews/ Flight Management 11 a.m Managing Hazardous Debris 2 p.m. Verifying No Hazardous Damage 4 p.m. Thermal Protection System Repair Techniques Wednesday, April 6 -- Crew Training Observation, Demonstrations
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Entry and Landing Simulation This event includes photo opportunities and spot interview potential with key flight personnel as they practice landings in a Shuttle simulator and in Mission Control.
2 p.m.-6 p.m. Hands-On Spacewalk Preview Using equipment at the large swimming pool, which is the primary spacewalk training facility, members of the crew, trainers and experts will explain the three spacewalks scheduled during STS-114. Thursday, April 7 -- Mission Overview, Crew Press Conference, Interviews
8:30 a.m. STS-114 Mission Overview 10:30 a.m. STS-114 Spacewalk Overview 12:30 p.m. STS-114 Crew News Conference This news conference will be followed by a brief opportunity to photograph and film the crew.
3 p.m.-7 p.m. Round Robin Crew Individual Interviews NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. For information about NASA’s Return to Flight mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight -end-