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Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington			March 14, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-0951)

Harry Wadsworth
Michoud Assembly Facility, Louisiana	
(Phone: 504/257-0094)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N03-30

SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM HOLDS FIRST SUMMIT

     The Space Shuttle Program will hold the first of what will be an 
annual Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) Summit March 19 and 20 at 
the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, La.

SLEP was initiated under the recently implemented Integrated Space 
Transportation Plan to ensure the viability of the Space Shuttle 
Program. The annual Summit will provide a forum that will shape the 
long-range strategy, prioritization, process for selection and 
recommendation for sustaining the Shuttle system. In addition, Return 
to Flight issues will be addressed.

The first day of the summit, Wednesday March 19, is open to the media. 
Reporters wishing to cover it should contact Harry Wadsworth with 
Lockheed Martin at the Michoud facility by telephone at 504/257-0094 
to arrange for credentials. Due to limited space in the summit meeting 
area, reporters will be seated in Michoudšs media room and be able to 
watch a closed- circuit television broadcast of the presentations. 
Several summit participants will be made available and brought to the
media room for interviews. 

Reporters and photographers are also invited to attend the luncheon on 
March 19 to listen to a keynote speech by NASA Administrator Sean 
OšKeefe. Space at the luncheon is very limited and will be filled on a 
first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please visit the SLEP Summit web site:

http://www.mafevents.com/SLEP/home.htm

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