WASHINGTON – The following statement is from Michael Coats, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, regarding the Wednesday, Dec. 19, death of International Space Station Flight Engineer Daniel Tani’s mother.

“The entire NASA family grieves with Dan on the unexpected loss of his mother yesterday. We will work to provide Dan and his family with any assistance that they need during this difficult time.”

For more information on astronaut Tani, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/tani.html