Alan G. Poindexter, who was born in Pasadena, Calif., but considers Rockville, Md., his hometown, will command space shuttle Discovery’s next mission to the International Space Station. The STS-131 flight is targeted to launch April 5 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Poindexter is available for interviews about the upcoming mission until Tuesday, March 9.
The 13-day flight will deliver supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the station’s laboratories. This will be Poindexter’s second spaceflight. He was the pilot on STS-122 in 2008. Discovery’s flight is one of four remaining shuttle missions. The last shuttle flight is currently targeted to launch in September 2010.
To cover the STS-131 launch on-site, reporters must request credentials for Kennedy by March 24. Media representatives should submit requests online at: https://media.ksc.nasa.gov/
Reporters interested in interviews with Poindexter should contact Gayle Frere at 281-483-8645 by March 3 to reserve an opportunity.
For Poindexter’s complete biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/poindexter.html
For the latest information about the STS-131 mission and crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
For the current schedule of remaining shuttle flights, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/stationflights
The public can learn how to view a shuttle launch or landing in Florida at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/view
