NASA To Highlight Robotic Refueling Mission Payload, Communication Support On Final Shuttle Flight

GREENBELT, Md. -- 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.

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 dewayne.a.washington@nasa.gov 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

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