NASA News: NASA Schedules News Conference About Final Space Shuttle Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA managers will hold a news conference on
Tuesday, June 28, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to
discuss the status of the final space shuttle launch.

The briefing will begin after the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, a
meeting to assess preparations for shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission
to the International Space Station.

Live status updates, including the start time for the news conference,
will be provided during the meeting via the NASA News Twitter feed.
To access the feed, go to the nasa.gov homepage or visit:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA

NASA expects to announce an official launch date at the conclusion of
the review. Atlantis and four veteran astronauts are targeted to lift
off at 11:26 a.m. EDT on July 8.

The briefing participants are:
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- Mike Moses, Space Shuttle Program launch integration manager
-- Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director

NASA Television and the agency's website will broadcast the briefing
live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations,
and should contact their preferred NASA center to confirm
participation. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-135 crew and mission information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

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Astronaut Mark Kelly Announces Plans To Retire From NASA

HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly has announced
his plans to retire from the agency on Oct. 1. He is a veteran of
four space shuttle missions.

"We salute Commander Mark Kelly and his contributions to NASA as an
extremely accomplished member of the astronaut corps and the final
commander of the space shuttle Endeavour," said NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden. "We deeply respect his achievements and his decision
to focus on his family. We continue to send out our thoughts and
prayers to Mark and his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, as she makes a
remarkable recovery. We know that Mark will continue to do great
things for his country no matter what he chooses to do next. He has
helped us build a space program poised to take advantage of the many
opportunities in our bright future."

Kelly announced his retirement Tuesday on Facebook and via his Twitter
account. On Facebook, he wrote, "This was not an easy decision.
Public service has been more than a job for me and for my family." He
added, "I know that as our space program evolves, there are those who
will question NASA's future. I am not among them. There isn't a group
more dedicated to its mission or more capable than the outstanding
men and women of NASA."

Kelly commanded the STS-134 flight in May and STS-124 in 2008. He
served as the pilot on STS-121 in 2006 and STS-108 in 2001. He joined
NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1996.

For Kelly's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kellyme.html

To follow Kelly on Twitter and Facebook, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/ShuttleCDRKelly

and

http://www.facebook.com/Capt.MarkKelly

Source:

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