NASA Sets Briefings to Provide Update About Hubble Shuttle Mission

WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold news briefings April 23 to update reporters about the space shuttle's fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA Television and the agency's Web site will provide live coverage of the briefings from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Shuttle Atlantis' 11-day flight, designated STS-125, is targeted for launch May 12 and will include five spacewalks to refurbish and upgrade the telescope with state-of-the-art science instruments. As a result, Hubble's capabilities will be expanded and its operational lifespan extended through at least 2014.

The schedule of activities includes (all times Eastern):

8 a.m. -- Video B-roll feed from NASA's Johnson Space Center

9 a.m. -- Shuttle Program overview briefing from Johnson. Panelists will be:

• LeRoy Cain, deputy manager, Space Shuttle Program
• Tony Ceccacci, lead flight director, STS-125
• Tomas Gonzales-Torres, lead spacewalk officer, STS-125

10:30 a.m. -- Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission program and science overview from NASA Headquarters. Panelists will be:

• Ed Weiler, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• David Leckrone, Hubble project scientist, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
• Preston Burch, Hubble project manager, Goddard
• Mike Kienlen, deputy project manager, Hubble Space Telescope, Goddard

Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations or listen and ask questions by phone. To reserve a phone line, journalists should send an e-mail to J.D. Harrington at j.d.harrington@nasa.gov with their name, media affiliation, and telephone number.

Noon -- NASA TV Video File

2 p.m. -- STS-125 crew news conference from NASA's Johnson Space Center

Scott Altman will command Atlantis' crew, which includes Pilot Gregory C. Johnson and Mission Specialists Andrew Feustel, Michael Good, John Grunsfeld, Megan McArthur and Mike Massimino. The spacewalkers are Good, Grunsfeld, Feustel and Massimino. McArthur is the flight engineer and lead for robotic arm operations.

Altman and Grunsfeld will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. for live satellite interviews. To participate, contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-125 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/hubble