Kirsten Larson
Headquarters, Washington, DC          February 28, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-0243)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

RELEASE: 01-30 

SPACE STATION SHIFT-CHANGE SET WITH NEXT SHUTTLE LAUNCH

     After more than four months in orbit, it's time for the 
Expedition One crew to make way for the second group of space 
explorers aboard the International Space Station. Space Shuttle 
Discovery is set to take the Expedition Two crew into orbit the 
morning of March 8. Liftoff is scheduled for 6:42 a.m. EST.

Discovery clears the way for a space station shift-change 
during STS-102 and brings an Italian-made cargo carrier, filled 
with laboratory experiments and equipment.

"This will be the fifth space shuttle launch in the past seven 
months, and each of those missions has been safe, fully 
successful and, relative to its challenge and complexity, 
almost deceptively smooth," said Space Shuttle Program Manager 
Ron Dittemore. "That record is a testament to the excellent 
work that has been done by all members of the space shuttle and 
space station teams coast to coast. Discovery is ready and so 
are we."

Discovery will be commanded by Jim Wetherbee. Jim Kelly will be 
the shuttle's pilot, and Andy Thomas and Paul Richards will 
serve as mission specialists. Discovery also will carry
the second expedition crew -- Russian Commander Yury Usachev 
and Flight Engineers
Jim Voss and Susan Helms, both American astronauts -- to the 
International Space Station.

At the end of its almost 12-day flight, Discovery will bring 
home the first station crew, Commander Bill Shepherd, Pilot 
Yuri Gidzenko and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev, completing 
more than four months spent in orbit aboard the complex. 
Discovery also will take aloft the first station logistics 
carrier, an Italian-built logistics module named Leonardo, 
filled with the first major laboratory experiments as well as 
key equipment.

Discovery is planned to land March 20 at NASA's Kennedy Space 
Center, FL.

                            -end-