STS-89 CREW BRIEFING KICKS OFF YEAR OF PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES AT JSC



February 13, 1998



Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center
(281) 483-5914

<h4>Release: J98-6</h4> <h3>STS-89 Crew Briefing Kicks Off Year of 
Public Opportunities at JSC</h3> 

The STS-89 shuttle crew will receive space flight awards, and brief 
the public about their mission to Mir on February 19, at Space Center 
Houston. This special event is part of an expanding series of 
community oriented events sponsored by the Johnson Space Center 
(JSC).



With a goal to help the public experience the adventure of human space 
flight, JSC is opening many events in 1998 to the public at no 
charge. These include space shuttle launch presentations, crew 
returns at Ellington Air Force Base, and crew briefings after each 
flight. Annual events like the family-oriented Open House planned for 
August 29, and the business Inspection in mid-November are excellent 
opportunities to discover space at JSC.



The upcoming STS-89 awards ceremony and crew briefing will be held in 
the IMAX Theater at Space Center Houston at 7 p.m. JSC Director 
George Abbey will present the crew&rsquo;s Space Flight Medals and 
other awards to individuals and teams who made key contributions to 
the flight. The crew, including Dr. David Wolf, will narrate a slide 
show presentation of mission photographs, including those taken by 
the crew during their flight. The program will conclude with a 
showing of the IMAX movie "Mission to Mir". A short question and 
answer period will follow the movie, so that the audience may ask 
questions of the crew.



During the STS-89 mission, Andy Thomas was delivered to the Mir space 
station to begin his stay until May, and Dr. David Wolf bid farewell 
to the Russian crew he had lived and worked with since last 
September. In addition to Thomas and Wolf, STS-89 crew members are 
Commander Terry Wilcutt, Pilot Joe Edwards, Payload Commander Bonnie 
Dunbar and Mission Specialists Mike Anderson, Jim Reilly, and 
Salizhan Sharipov.



The public and all JSC employees, contractors, friends, family 
members, and guests are invited. Early arrival is recommended due to 
the limited seating available in the Space Center Houston IMAX 
theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the seating is first-come, 
first-served. The program is limited to the theater, and other Space 
Center Houston attractions will not be open. Space Center Houston is 
located next to the Johnson Space Center, midway between Houston and 
Galveston at 1601 NASA Road 1.



For events such as crew returns and launches, the public should call 
in advance for possible time changes. Updated information about each 
event will be available on the days before the event on the JSC 
Public Information line 281/483-8600.



Space Center Houston offers a broad, in-depth view of the space 
program throughout the year, with hands-on activities and exhibits 
for families and schools. For more information phone (281) 244-2100 
or visit the Internet site at http://www.spacecenter.org

	
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