This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
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March 4, 2003

Kelly Humphries
Lufkin Command Center, Texas
Phone: 936/699-1019

Mike Ferris
U.S. Forest Service
Phone: 903/641-3717

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Phone: 281/483-5111

Report #N03-025

MEDIA INVITED TO DOCUMENT COLUMBIA RECOVERY FIELD SEARCH

News media representatives are invited to document search team
activities this Friday, March 7, 2003, associated with the efforts to
recover materials from the Space Shuttle Columbia accident. 

Reporters are invited to meet with a search crew and its chief, follow 
their activities as they prepare to go into the field near Corsicana, 
Texas, follow the search crew into its designated search area, and 
conduct interviews with the crew chief and team members. 

Media wishing to attend the briefing must contact the Joint
Information Center (JIC) at Lufkin, Texas, no later than noon CST
Thursday, March 6. Calls should be directed to the JIC at 936-699-1019 
or 936-699-1094. Faxes should be sent to 936-631-3773.  Media will 
receive specific instructions on where to meet the team when they call 
to confirm their participation. If the demand for the opportunity 
exceeds the JIC's ability to support, a media pool may be required.

The opportunity is expected to last approximately four hours, after
which the media crews will be escorted back to their vehicles.
Participating media are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing,
including sturdy boots, long pants, jackets and rain gear (if weather
conditions warrant). While in the field, media representatives will be 
expected to follow the safety directions of the search crew boss and 
stay with the escorts provided. 

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