[meteorite-list] NASA Press Conference Scheduled For 3PM EST, February 1

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:18:24 2004
Message-ID: <200302011857.KAA21979_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.nasa.gov

NASA PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 3 P.M. EST FEB. 1

A press conference by Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore
and Chief Flight Director Milt Heflin will take place from NASA's
Johnson Space Center, Houston, beginning at 3 p.m. EST today. The
briefing will be carried on NASA TV with two-way question and answer
capability from other agency centers.

A Space Shuttle contingency was declared earlier this morning in
Mission Control when communication was lost with the Space Shuttle
Columbia during its return to Earth following a 16-day mission.

Communication and tracking of the shuttle was lost at 9 a.m. at an
altitude of about 203,000 feet above north central Texas while traveling
approximately 12,500 miles per hour (Mach 18). No communication and
tracking information was received in Mission Control after that time.

Flight controllers in Mission Control immediately began the process of
securing all information, notes and data pertinent to today's reentry
and landing.

NASA TV is on AMC-2, Transponder 9C, vertical polarization at 85 degrees
West longitude, 3880 MHz, with audio at 6.8 MHz.

NOTE TO PERSONS IN THE AREA: All debris is United States Government
property and is critical to the investigation of the shuttle accident.
Any and all debris from the accident is to be left alone and reported to
Government authorities. Unauthorized persons found in possession of
accident debris will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Received on Sat 01 Feb 2003 01:57:36 PM PST