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John F. Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899
AC 321-867-2468
___________________________________For Release: Feb. 11, 2003 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham               
(321) 867-2468                      
    
KSC Release No. 17 - 03

MEDIA INVITED TO COVER ARRIVAL OF COLUMBIA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
BOARD AT KSC FEB. 12

Media representatives will have the opportunity to cover the arrival
of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, at the Kennedy Space
Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Retired Navy Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., board chairman and the
other members of the board are scheduled to arrive at the SLF at about 
11 a.m. EST. 

In addition, a media pool will be selected to accompany the board and
observe some of their activities during their visit to KSC Feb. 12 -
13. Locations the board will tour include the Orbiter Processing
Facilities, the Vehicle Assembly Building, the launch pads and the
Launch Control Center. 

Media may also cover the board's departure from KSC Friday morning.
The current planned departure time from the SLF is 7:45 a.m. Friday,
Feb. 14. 

The independent board is charged with determining what caused the
destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the loss of its
seven-member crew on Feb. 1 during reentry.

Board members accompanying Admiral Gehman are: Rear Admiral Stephen
Turcotte, Commander, U.S. Naval Safety Center, Norfolk, Va.; Major
General John L. Barry, Director, Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air
Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; Major
General Kenneth W. Hess, U.S. Air Force Chief of Safety, Washington;
Dr. James N. Hallock, Aviation Safety Division Chief, U.S. Department
of Transportation, Cambridge, Mass.; Steven B. Wallace, Director,
Office of Accident Investigation,  Federal Aviation Administration,
Washington; Scott Hubbard, Director NASA Ames Research Center, Calif.; 
Roger E. Tetrault, former Chairman of McDermott International, Inc.; 
Brigadier General Duane Deal, Commander 21st Space Wing, Peterson Air 
Force Base, Colo.; and Bryan D. O'Connor, NASA's Associate 
Administrator for Safety and Mission Assurance.

NOTICE TO EDITORS: Media representatives wishing to participate should 
be at the KSC Press Site by 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, for
transport to the SLF.  Media wishing to attend the Board's departure
must be at the press site by 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

STS-107 badging requirements and security restrictions for the media
remain in effect. Media parking will be at Gate 3 on S.R. 405.
Additional information regarding accreditation, transportation to the
KSC Press Site, and News Center operational hours is available by
calling the KSC News Center at (321) 867-2468.

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