SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Nov. 21, 2006

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749

Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468

NASA ANNOUNCES NEWS CONFERENCE ON NEXT SHUTTLE LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With space shuttle Discovery poised on the launch pad for the next assembly mission to the International Space Station, NASA managers plan to hold a news conference at approximately 3 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Nov. 29 to discuss the status of the upcoming mission. The news conference will be at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and begin after the conclusion of the traditional Flight Readiness Review.

The news conference follows a two-day assessment of preparations for Discovery's mission, designated STS-116. The Nov. 28-29 meeting may produce a number of key decisions about the assembly flight, including selection of an official launch date. The current target date for the Discovery's launch is no earlier than 9:36 p.m. EST on Dec. 7.

Briefing participants: -- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations -- Wayne Hale, Space Shuttle Program manager -- Mike Leinbach, NASA launch director

The start of the news conference will depend on the ending time of the Review. It will air live on NASA TV.

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-116 crew and mission information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov