CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA will host a media teleconference with Space Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale at 5 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 3, to discuss the status of ongoing work to prepare shuttle Atlantis for its launch to the International Space Station.

To participate in the teleconference, reporters must R.S.V.P. by 4 p.m. Thursday to NASA’s Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281-483-5111. Live audio of the event will be streamed online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

For information about the next shuttle mission, designated STS-122, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle