NASA managers will discuss the status of the Space Launch
Initiative (SLI) program during a news conference currently
scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 17.

The news event will be carried live on NASA Television and
will originate from the James E. Webb auditorium at NASA
Headquarters, 300 E St., SW, Washington, DC. Two-way
question-and-answer capability will be available at
participating NASA centers.

The Space Launch Initiative is a comprehensive effort to
dramatically increase the safety, reliability and
affordability of space transportation systems.

Participants include:

* Sam Venneri, Associate Administrator for Aerospace
Technology, NASA Headquarters

* Art Stephenson, Director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, AL

* Dennis Smith, SLI Program Manager, Marshall Space Flight
Center

NASA TV is broadcast on GE-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located
at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz.
Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz.

Additional information on the SLI program is available on the
Internet at:

http://www.slinews.com