CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA will hold a ceremony April 17 at 9 a.m. EDT to officially welcome a new International Space Station component to the Kennedy Space Center. The Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section for the Japanese Experiment Module arrived at Kennedy March 12 to begin preparations for its future launch.

The Japanese Experiment Module will be carried into space on three shuttle missions. Known as Kibo, which means "hope" in Japanese, it is Japan’s primary contribution to the station. The Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section will serve as an on-orbit storage area for materials, tools and supplies. It can hold up to eight experiment racks and will attach to the top of another larger pressurized module. The Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section is targeted for launch aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-123.

Permanent media representatives with credentials should arrive at Kennedy’s press site by 8 a.m. for transportation to the Space Station Processing Facility. Since it is an operational area, all participants must dress in full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet, and shirts with sleeves. Media without Kennedy credentials can apply for accreditation via the online media accreditation Web site.

International media must apply by 5 p.m. on April 6 at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For more information on Kibo and the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station