June 21, 1999

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center
(281/483-5111)

Release: J99-22

STS-96 Astronauts to Share Mission Memories

The seven-member crew of Discovery will share memories of their recent 10-day mission to the International Space Station at 7:30 p.m., Monday June 28 at Space Center Houston.

The public and all JSC employees, contractors, friends and families are invited to hear Commander Kent Rominger, Pilot Rick Husband, Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Ellen Ochoa, Dan Barry, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette, and Russian cosmonaut Valery Tokarev narrate a slide and video presentation highlighting their recent successful flight.

Immediately prior to the crew briefing, JSC Director George W. S. Abbey will present the astronauts with NASA Space Flight Medals recognizing their efforts on behalf of the space program, and also will honor other key individuals and teams for their outstanding contributions to the flight.

During six days spent docked to the International Space Station, the astronauts transferred more than 4,500 pounds of equipment, hardware and supplies intended for the station’s first resident crew and the continuing construction of the orbital outpost. Astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Dan Barry conducted a 7 hour, 55 minute long spacewalk, attaching U.S.- and Russian-built cranes that will be used during future assembly flights.

Early arrival is recommended due to the limited seating available in the theater. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. In the interest of safety, doors will be closed when the maximum seating capacity is reached. The program is limited to the theater where the briefing is conducted, 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 appearances, launches and landings, the public should call in advance for possible schedule changes. Updated information about these events is available on the JSC Public Information line at 281/483-8600. -END

text-only version of this release