NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

MEDIA ADVISORY : M06-098 NASA to Select Shuttle Discovery Launch Date NASA officials will host a news conference no earlier than 2 p.m. EDT, Saturday, June 17, following a two-day detailed assessment of the readiness of Space Shuttle Discovery for launch. The briefing will air live on NASA TV from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

The news conference follows the traditional Flight Readiness Review, a thorough assessment of preparations for the mission. The June 16-17 meeting is designed to produce a number of key decisions about Discovery's mission, STS-121, including selection of an official launch date.

The specific start time of the news conference is dependent on the meeting's conclusion. Only reporters at Kennedy Space Center will be able to ask questions. Participants:

-- Michael Griffin, NASA administrator
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager
-- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

NASA TV's Public, Education and Media channels are available on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal accessed via satellite AMC-6; 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and Hawaii, they're on AMC-7; 137 degrees west longitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. For digital downlink and NASA TV information, including links to streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For information about the STS-121 crew and mission to the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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