NASA Astronauts and Managers to Discuss the First of Five Remaining Shuttle Flights

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Endeavour will deliver the final module of the U.S. portion of the International Space Station on the STS-130 mission, now targeted to launch Feb. 7. NASA will preview this mission during a series of news briefings Friday, Jan. 15, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA Television and the agency’s Web site will broadcast the briefings live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations, including Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Endeavour’s flight will begin the final year of space shuttle operations. Five shuttle missions are planned in 2010, with the final flight currently targeted for launch in September.

Endeavour’s 13-day flight will include three spacewalks and the delivery of the Tranquility node, a connecting module that will increase the International Space Station’s interior space. Tranquility will provide additional room for crew members and many of the space station’s life support and environmental control systems. Attached to the node is a cupola, which is a robotic control station and has seven windows to provide a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecrafts. After the node and cupola are added, the space station will be about 90 percent complete.

George Zamka will command Endeavour. He will be joined by Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kay Hire, Steve Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Bob Behnken. Virts will be making his first trip to space.

The schedule of briefings (all times EST) is:
9 a.m. – Space Shuttle and Space Station Program Overview
10:30 a.m. – STS-130 Mission Overview
12 p.m. – NASA TV Video File
1 p.m. – STS-130 Spacewalk Overview
2 p.m. – STS-130 Crew News Conference

Also on Jan. 15, Endeavour’s six astronauts will be available for interviews at Johnson. Reporters should contact Gayle Frere at 281-483-8645 by Jan. 7 to reserve an interview opportunity.

All reporters planning to attend the briefings in Houston must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5 p.m. on Jan. 7 for credentials.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedules, and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-130 mission and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For the latest information on the space station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station