WASHINGTON – NASA will hold a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EST, on Friday, Dec. 21, to make an announcement about the schedule for evaluating its Mars Scout program.

Mars Exploration Program Director Doug McCuistion will be the briefer.

To participate in the teleconference, news media representatives should call 800-857-5735. The passcode is Mars. International callers should dial 210-839-8725. Audio of the briefing will be streamed live on NASA’s Web site at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

For more information about NASA’s Mars program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mars

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov