July 21, 2000

Ray Castillo
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-4555)

Rob Navias
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

Release: N00-32

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Comprehensive Coverage Planned for Space Station Module Docking

NASA TV plans live coverage of the International Space Station's automated docking to the Russian Zvezda Service Module on Tuesday, July 25. The addition of Zvezda to the orbiting outpost sets the stage for the beginning of human habitation aboard the Station, which will begin this Fall.

Coverage on NASA TV will begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT with commentary originating from both the Russian Mission Control Center in Korolev, Russia, where the docking will be supervised by Russian flight controllers, and the International Space Station Flight Control Room at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX. The actual linkup is scheduled at approximately 8:53 p.m. EDT.

Live television is expected from Zvezda's external black and white camera as the module passes over Russian ground stations shortly before the docking, showing the Station approaching for its linkup with the newest component to the international facility. Zvezda will serve as the first living quarters for astronauts, cosmonauts and other international researchers aboard the International Space Station.

Shortly after docking, a news conference will be held at the Russian Mission Control Center involving US and Russian flight controllers. The news conference will be broadcast live on NASA TV, with questions from reporters in Korolev only.

NASA TV can be found on GE-2, Transponder 9C, 85 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization with a frequency of 3880 MHz and audio at 6.8 MHz.

text-only version of this release