MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – During a televised mission science briefing originating in Florida, Wednesday, Aug. 1, at about 11:40 a.m. PDT NASA Ames Research Center will provide local reporters an opportunity to ask questions of NASA scientists about the Phoenix spacecraft’s mission to Mars. Phoenix is scheduled to lift off Friday, Aug. 3, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

On Wednesday, Aug. 1, reporters may ask questions during the briefing from participating NASA field centers, including NASA Ames’ main auditorium. The briefing will follow the Phoenix pre-launch news conference from NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla., which begins at 11 a.m. PDT.

The Phoenix spacecraft will land in the arctic region of Mars and attempt to answer questions such as: Can the martian arctic support life? What is the history of water at the polar landing site? How is the martian climate affected by polar seasonal change?

In addition to scientists at NASA Kennedy, Phoenix scientists from NASA Ames and the SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif., will be available at Ames to answer local reporters’ queries after the televised briefing.

Phoenix scientists available at NASA Ames will be:

  • Chris McKay, Phoenix co-investigator, biological interpretation, from NASA Ames
  • Aaron Zent, Phoenix co-I\investigator, soil-atmosphere interaction, from NASA Ames
  • Richard Quinn, Phoenix research, NASA Ames and SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif.
  • John Marshall, Phoenix co-investigator, soil science, geological studies, SETI Institute, Mountain View, Calif.

The news briefing participants in Florida will be:

  • Michael Meyer, lead scientist for Mars, NASA Headquarters, Washington
  • Peter Smith, Phoenix principal investigator, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
  • Ray Arvidson, co-chairman, Phoenix Landing Site Working Group, Washington University, St. Louis
  • Leslie Tamppari, Phoenix project scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
  • William Boynton, lead scientist for thermal and evolved-gas analyzer, University of Arizona
  • Michael Hecht, lead scientist for microscopy, electrochemistry and conductivity analyzer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

The news conference will be carried live on NASA Television and the agency’s Internet homepage, www.nasa.gov. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and web video streaming information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about Phoenix, please visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/2007/phoenix.html

To reach Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east in the right lane towards the main gate. A security guard will direct visitors to park in a small lot to the right, near the Visitor Badge Office where U.S. citizens will be asked to present government picture identification, such as a valid driver’s license. News media representatives will be provided directions to Ames’ main auditorium.