NASA to Announce Work Assignments to Enable Lunar Exploration

NASA will take another important step toward returning astronauts to the moon by assigning key future Constellation Program work to its field centers. The agency’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate will host a media roundtable at 1 p.m. EDT at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St., S.W., Washington.

Briefers will be:
Rick Gilbrech, NASA associate administrator for exploration systems
Doug Cooke, NASA deputy associate administrator for exploration systems
Jeff Hanley, Constellation Program manager

A phone bridge will be available for reporters unable to attend the roundtable. Reporters who want to participate in person or on the phone should contact Melissa Mathews at 202-358-1272 or Beth Dickey at 202-358-2087 for details. Audio of the event will be streamed live on the Web at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio


Shortly after the news conference, most NASA centers will hold a media event to discuss the local work assignments in more detail. Reporters should contact their local NASA center for the event’s starting time and additional information.

Each NASA center already is designing and developing the Ares rockets and Orion spacecraft that will take astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station and on missions to the moon. The new work will build on the progress the Constellation Program is making with its transportation system. These early assignments will enable operations on the moon, and will include work related to the lunar lander, surface systems and extravehicular activities by astronauts.

For more on NASA’s plans to return to the moon, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration