Published: May 21, 2009

Astronauts Who Upgraded NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Return to Earth Friday

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The seven astronauts who upgraded NASA's Hubble Space Telescope are expected to return to Earth aboard space shuttle Atlantis on Friday after an 11-day mission. The two landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are at 10 a.m. and 11:39 a.m. EDT.

NASA flight directors will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Atlantis and its crew to land. If weather prevents a return to Kennedy on Friday, the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California will be activated Saturday for consideration as well. For recorded updated information about landing, call 321-867-2525.

Approximately two hours after landing, NASA officials will hold a media briefing to discuss the mission. The participants will be: - Ed Weiler, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington - Mike Moses, launch integration manager for NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston - Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director, Kennedy

After touchdown in Florida, the astronauts will undergo physical examinations and meet with their families. The STS-125 crew is expected to hold a news conference about four and a half hours after landing Friday. Both news events will be broadcast live on NASA Television.

The Kennedy news center will open for landing activities at 6 a.m. Friday and close at 5 p.m. or one hour after the last media event.

The STS-125 media badges are in effect through landing. The media accreditation building on State Road 3 will be open Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. The last bus will depart from the news center for the Shuttle Landing Facility one hour before landing.

If the landing is diverted to Edwards, news media should call the Dryden public affairs office at 661-276-3449. Dryden has limited facilities available for use by previously accredited journalists.

The NASA News Twitter feed is updated throughout the shuttle mission and landing. To access the NASA News feed and other agency Twitter feeds, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/collaborate

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-125 mission and accomplishments, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about Hubble, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

Source:NASA