NASA Announces Media Teleconference About Satellite Re-Entry

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Sep 07, 2011, 01:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 9, to discuss the anticipated re-entry of the agency's decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Re-entry is expected late this month or early October.

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The teleconference participants are:

-- Paul Hertz, chief scientist, NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington

-- Nick Johnson, chief scientist, NASA's Orbital Debris Program, Johnson Space Center, Houston

-- U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael W. Duncan, deputy chief, space situational awareness, U.S. Strategic Command, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

To participate in the teleconference, reporters must contact the NASA Headquarters newsroom at 202-358-1600 no later than 9 a.m. Friday for the call-in number and passcode.

UARS was launched Sept. 12, 1991, aboard space shuttle mission STS-48 and deployed on Sept. 15, 1991. It was the first multi-instrumented satellite to observe numerous chemical components of the atmosphere for better understanding of photochemistry. UARS data marked the beginning of many long-term records for key chemicals in the atmosphere. The satellite also provided key data on the amount of light that comes from the sun at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. UARS ceased its productive scientific life in 2005.

For live audio streaming of the teleconference, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

For more information about UARS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/uars

SOURCE NASA