Astronaut Sandra Magnus, who was born in Belleville, Ill., will make her second journey into orbit on space shuttle Endeavour’s mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour is targeted to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 14, at 7:55 p.m. EST.
To cover the launch at Kennedy, U.S. reporters must request credentials by Nov. 3, and foreign reporters must do so by Oct. 20. Media should submit requests online at:
To request an interview with Mission Specialist Magnus, news media should contact the Johnson Space Center newsroom in Houston at 281-483-5111 by Nov. 3.
Magnus is one of seven astronauts who will fly on the shuttle mission designated STS-126. The shuttle will deliver equipment and supplies necessary to double the station crew size from three to six in May 2009. During the 15-day flight, astronauts will service the station’s two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints. The starboard joint has been in limited use since September 2007. Magnus will join the station’s Expedition 18 crew and return to Earth on the STS-119 mission, targeted for February 2009.
Magnus graduated from Belleville West High School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, and a doctorate from the School of Material Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996.
For Magnus’ complete biography, visit:
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/magnus.html
For the latest information about the STS-126 mission and crew, visit:
