Hubble Mission Astronauts Media Availability Feb. 13

The space shuttle crew for a mission to extend and improve the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope will be at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., Feb. 12-14. This is the first visit by the astronauts to Goddard as part of their formal mission preparation activities. The mission is targeted to launch in 2008.

On Tuesday, Feb. 13, media will have the opportunity to talk with the astronauts from 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. EST. Media representatives wishing to attend the availability must contact Susan Hendrix at 301-286-7745 or Ed Campion at 301-286-0697 to arrange access.

Veteran astronaut Scott Altman will command the final shuttle mission to Hubble. Navy Reserve Capt. Gregory C. Johnson will serve as pilot. The mission specialists are veteran spacewalkers John Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino and first-time space fliers Andrew Feustel, Air Force Col. Michael Good and flight engineer and robotic arm operator Megan McArthur.

Goddard is responsible for Hubble program management, including development of new science instruments, replacement hardware, tools and procedures that allow Hubble to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

The NASA Video File feed on Feb. 13-14 will feature footage of the astronauts' visit to Goddard. Also airing will be new Hubble animation and footage of recent spacewalk training activities in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory pool at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. For NASA Television downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the space shuttle Hubble servicing mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

Source: NASA

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