Top officials in NASA’s human space flight program will
meet Friday, Feb. 18, to review the latest activities to
return Space Shuttles to safe flight. Following the meeting,
officials will brief the media during a telephone conference
at 1 p.m. EST.

Among the topics that will be discussed at the Space Flight
Leadership Council meeting are refining the dates of the
launch-planning window for the Return to Flight mission,
designated STS-114, and Shuttle Thermal Protection System
repair options that will be tested during the flight

The briefing participants are:

  • William Readdy, associate administrator for Space Operations and Space Flight Leadership Council co-chair
  • Walter Cantrell, deputy chief engineer for the Independent Technical Authority and Space Flight Leadership Council co-chair
  • Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

Reporters interested in participating in the teleconference
should call Melissa Mathews or Allard Beutel (202/358-
1272/4769) by noon EDT Friday. The teleconference will be
audio streamed live on the Internet at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

NASA’s Space Flight Leadership Council is co-chaired by
Readdy and Cantrell. The council includes the directors for
NASA’s four Space Operations centers, Chief Officer for
Safety and Mission Assurance Bryan O’Connor, and Michael
Kostelnik, deputy associate administrator for the
International Space Station and Space Shuttle Programs. For
more information about NASA’s Return to Flight efforts,
visit:

www.nasa.gov/returntoflight