The Shuttle astronauts are getting ready to
unwrap Canada’s latest contribution to the International Space Station.
Astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin are scheduled to begin
their first spacewalk tomorrow to start the complex process of installing
Canada’s Mobile Base System on the International Space Station. The base is
a work platform that will transport Canadarm2, as well as other space
structures and equipment, along rails that will run the length of the
International Space Station.

Around 4 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 9 Canadarm2 will reach into the Shuttle’s
cargo bay and grapple the Mobile Base, allowing power to flow from the arm
to the base. This will mark the first time Canadarm2 will handle a powered
payload.

The astronauts will then remove thermal blankets that have been keeping the
base warm, in preparation for installing it on top of the U.S.-built Mobile
Transporter, which will carry it along the rails. By the end of the day
Canadarm2 will have pulled the 1450-kilogram base out of the cargo bay and
parked it in its overnight position next to the Transporter.

The Mobile Base System is the second element of Canada’s contribution to the
Space Station, following Canadarm2, which was installed last year.

Program for June 9, 2002 (Flight Day 5)

* 11:08 a.m. EDT: Franklin Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin
spacewalk begins

* Around 4:00 p.m. EDT: Canadarm2 grapples the Mobile Base
System, pulls it out of Endeavour’s cargo bay and parks it close to the
Mobile Transporter.

* 5:08 p.m. EDT: Spacewalk ends

* 5:30 p.m. EDT: NASA Status Briefing on the day’s activities.

A Canadian Space Agency (CSA) representative will participate, providing an
update on the day’s Canadian robotics activities and the progress of the
Mobile Base System transfer from the Shuttle payload bay to its overnight
position. Media can watch live coverage of the briefing on NASA TV or on the
NASA Website

* A briefing at the CSA headquarters in Saint-Hubert will
follow the NASA briefing. Spokespeople will be available at the CSA during
and after the briefings as well as throughout the day.

For live coverage, media can log on to the NASA TV satellite on GE-2,
Transponder 9C at 85 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization, with a
frequency of 3880 MHz and audio of 6.8 MHz or via the Internet at
www.nasa.gov/ntv/ <http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/>

Media can listen to the NASA briefing: dial 1 866 805-7923 and enter the
pass code 47703#

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For more information, contact:

Monique Billette

Senior Media Relations Officer

Canadian Space Agency

Tel.: (450) 926- 4370

monique.billette@space.gc.ca