Note to Editors: STS-98 “Destiny” Media Opportunity at KSC Dec. 20

George H. Diller

321/867-2468

KSC Release No: 110-00

The U.S. science laboratory Destiny, considered the centerpiece of the
International Space Station for the United States, is the focus of a press
opportunity on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at KSC’s Space Station Processing
Facility.

Destiny is nearing readiness for its upcoming launch. The two crew access
hatches have been closed and sealed for flight – – a final milestone event
culminating over two years of launch processing. On Wednesday, the Destiny
laboratory will be moved from its test and integration stand into the Launch
Package Integration Stand (LPIS) in preparation for a weight and center of
gravity determination. Destiny will be installed into the payload
transportation canister the next day and taken to Launch Pad 39-A after the
holidays for placement into Space Shuttle Atlantis’ payload bay.

Media are invited to witness this milestone in International Space Station
processing as the Destiny laboratory is hoisted and moved to the LPIS stand.
Spokespersons from NASA and Boeing will be available for interviews.

Media representatives interested in attending the event are required to wear
long pants and closed-toe shoes while inside the Space Station Processing
Facility. Clean room attire will not be required for this event, however,
no food, tobacco, lighters or matches are permitted inside the high bay.
Electronic flash photography is permitted. The lighting in the facility is
mercury.

Those planning to attend should be at the KSC News Center Wednesday, Dec. 20
at 12:45 p.m. to be taken to the Space Station Processing Facility. Media
should check the recorded status line at 867-2525 after 9 a.m. to assure the
time of the event has not changed due to the readiness preparations underway
for the activity.

The Destiny laboratory module is 28 feet in length, 14 feet in diameter, and
weighs 32,000 pounds. It is to be a world-class, state-of-the-art research
facility functioning in microgravity. The lab will provide astronauts a
shirtsleeve environment for research in many areas including life and
microgravity sciences, Earth science, and space science research.