NASA SETS BRIEFINGS FOR NEXT SHUTTLE MISSION TO THE SPACE STATION

NASA will hold a series of news briefings on Monday, Nov. 3, to preview the upcoming space shuttle Endeavour mission that will outfit the International Space Station for six-person crews.

NASA Television and the agency's Web site will provide live coverage of the briefings from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. News media questions also will be taken from other participating NASA locations.

Endeavour's 15-day flight, designated STS-126, is targeted for launch Nov. 14. The flight will deliver supplies and equipment to prepare the station for six-person crews starting next spring. The mission also includes four spacewalks to service the two Solar Array Rotary Joints that allow the arrays to track the sun.

U.S. reporters planning to attend the briefings in Houston must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 by Oct. 29 to arrange for credentials. Journalists who are foreign nationals must contact the Johnson newsroom by Oct. 16.

Also on Nov. 3, Endeavour's seven astronauts will be available for round-robin interviews at Johnson. Reporters must contact Gayle Frere at 281-483-8645 by Oct. 29 to reserve an interview opportunity.

Chris Ferguson will command Endeavour's crew, which includes Pilot Eric Boe, and Mission Specialists Donald Pettit, Steve Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Shane Kimbrough, and Sandra Magnus. The spacewalkers will be Stefanyshyn-Piper, Bowen and Kimbrough. Magnus will remain on the station as flight engineer and science officer of the Expedition 18 crew. Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff will return to Earth on Endeavour to conclude six months on the station.

Briefing times (all times CST):

7 a.m.: Video B-roll feed on NASA TV

8 - 9:30 a.m.: Program Overview Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon International Space Station Program Manager Mike Suffredini

9:30 - 11 a.m.: Mission Overview STS-126 Lead Flight Director Mike Sarafin International Space Station Lead Flight Director Ginger Kerrick Launch Package Manager Kevin Engelbert

11 a.m.: NASA TV Video File

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Spacewalk Overview Briefing Lead Extravehicular Activity Officer John Ray

1 - 2 p.m.: STS-126 Crew News Conference

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

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-126 mission and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For the latest information on the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station