NASA to Highlight Robotic Refueling Mission Payload, Communication Support on Final Shuttle Flight

News provided by

Jun 23, 2011, 02:50 ET

GREENBELT, Md., June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will host a media event to highlight its role in the final space shuttle flight, currently targeted for launch on July 8. The media day will be held from 9 a.m. to noon EDT on Tuesday, June 28.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

At 9 a.m., Goddard managers and engineers will give an overview of the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) module, which shuttle Atlantis will deliver to the International Space Station. RRM will use the station's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre, to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft in orbit. The Canadian Space Agency built the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, or Dextre, to perform intricate maintenance and servicing tasks on the station.

Reporters also will visit Goddard's Exploration and Space Communications area to learn how Goddard provides tracking, data and voice communications for every shuttle mission. Reporters then will have the opportunity to see the Network Integration Center and the Flight Dynamics Facility, which also support shuttle flights.

To attend, reporters must contact Dewayne Washington at 301-286-0040 or [email protected] or Malissa Reyes at 301-286-0918 by June 27 to reserve space and provide names for security badges. Reporters should meet at the Goddard Visitor's Center, located off Greenbelt Road (State Route 193) and ICESat Road no later than 8:45 a.m. on June 28 to allow sufficient time for everyone to receive badges. A shuttle will take reporters to the various sites.

For information about NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/goddard

For information about RRM, visit:

http://ssco.gsfc.nasa.gov

For information about ESC, visit:

http://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov

For information about the STS-135 mission, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/STS-135

SOURCE NASA