Media Invited to Attend Exploration Media Day Activities at NASA MSFC August 3

What:

Members of the news media are invited to an Exploration Media Day on Aug. 3, 2006, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Media will have the opportunity to tour several Marshall facilities, see hardware and software demonstrations and speak with engineers about current development and test activities aimed at laying the foundation for NASA’s mission to explore the moon and travel to Mars and destinations beyond.

These Marshall exploration activities include wind tunnel testing, engine injector hardware hot-fire testing, advanced welding techniques for large structures and fuel tanks, and lunar resource utilization research projects. Program and project managers will be available to answer questions.

The Media Day also will include an update on the progress of NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate and its Constellation Program, which is slated to build and fly the launch vehicles and spacecraft carrying future generations of explorers to destinations throughout our solar system.

Ares I is the crew launch vehicle that will transport the Crew Exploration Vehicle and deliver uncrewed cargo payloads to space, and Ares V is the cargo launch vehicle that will carry heavy-lift payloads to space for use by exploration missions. The vehicles are being designed and developed by the Exploration Launch Projects Office at Marshall. NASA’s Lunar Precursor and Robotics Program and Lunar Lander Project Office also are managed from Marshall.

Who:

NASA senior managers who will be available to media include Scott Horowitz, associate administrator, NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington; Jeff Hanley, manager of the Constellation Program at Johnson Space Center, Houston; Steve Cook, manager of the Exploration Launch Projects Office; and Tony Lavoie, manager of the Lunar Precursor and Robotics Program.

When:

The Media Day, including facility tours and a Q&A session with key NASA Exploration managers, will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT, Thursday, Aug. 3, at Marshall.

Where:

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Rideout Road/Research Park Boulevard Exit at Interstate 565

To attend:

News media interested in covering the event should contact Kim Newton at 256-544-0034 no later than Tuesday, Aug. 1. Media must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Rideout Road/Research Park Boulevard. Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. News media will need two photo identifications, vehicle registration and proof of car insurance. Visitor parking is available in front of Bldg. 4200 on the southwest side.

For information about NASA’s exploration efforts on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home