NASA is hosting a media teleconference about the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory mission on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 2 p.m. EDT.

Briefing participants:

— Madhulika Guhathakurta, STEREO program scientist, NASA headquarters, Washington

— Michael Kaiser, STEREO project scientist, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

— Ed Reynolds, STEREO project manager, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.

— Nicholas Chrissotimos, STEREO project manager, Goddard

The nearly identical twin observatories will provide 3-D views of the sun and solar wind, perspectives critical to improving understanding of space weather, its impact on astronauts and Earth systems. The satellites will launch aboard a Delta II rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 31, for a two-year mission.

Reporters should call: 888-390-2955 and use the pass code “STEREO” to participate in the teleconference. International media callers should call: 210-234-0023. At the start of the briefing, related images and graphics will be posted at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/news/prelaunch.html

For interviews with Kaiser, contact Rachel Weintraub at 301-286-0918. Animation of the launch and artists’ conceptions of the spacecraft will be available on Aug. 17 on NASA TV at noon EDT. For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv