October 22, 1998

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Phone: 281/483-5111

Release: J98-49

Defense Secretary William Cohen to Visit JSC, Meet With STS-95 Crew

United States Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen will meet the STS-95 astronauts on Monday, Oct. 26 as part of a visit to the Johnson Space Center. The event will begin at 9 a.m. CDT and will be open to the news media as a photo opportunity only. The astronauts are in quarantine as part of routine pre-launch preparations and will not be available to speak with reporters.

Cohen was named Secretary of Defense in January 1997 following a distinguished public service career, including seven years as a U.S. Representative from Maine and 18 years as a United States Senator.

Following a brief meeting with Mr. Cohen, the STS-95 astronauts will leave for Ellington Field, for their departure to the Kennedy Space Center. Media are invited to join in a brief photo opportunity at Ellington Field at 10:30 a.m. as the astronauts climb aboard their T-38 training jets for their flight to Florida.

Media representatives wishing to attend Monday’s events should call the Johnson Space Center newsroom at 281/483-5111 no later than noon Friday, Oct. 23.

text-only version of this release