NASA will host a media teleconference at 2:30 p.m. EDT today to discuss the selection of an Asteroid Redirect Mission concept and other advances supporting the agency’s journey to Mars.

The Asteroid Redirect Mission will retrieve an asteroid mass and place it into lunar orbit, where astronauts will explore it in the 2020s. The mission will test a number of new capabilities needed for future human deep space expeditions, including to Mars.

Participants in the media teleconference are:

Robert Lightfoot, NASA associate administrator

Michele Gates, program director, NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission

Lindley Johnson, program executive, NASA’s Near Earth Object Program

To participate, media must email their first and last name, affiliation and phone number to Karen Northon at karen.northon@nasa.gov by 2:15 p.m.

Audio of the media teleconference will stream live on NASA’s website at: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio 

Find more information about the Asteroid Redirect Mission at: www.nasa.gov/asteroidinitiative