This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glenn Mahone/Doc Mirelson                    April 15, 2003
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1600)

Dave Drachlis/Kelly Humphries
Lufkin Command Center, Texas
(Phone: 936/699-1019)

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

Stan Chapman
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington
(Phone: 202/720-2791)

Gay Ippolito
U.S. Forest Service, Lufkin, Texas
(Phone: 936/630-3128)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N03-043

NASA, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & U.S. FOREST SERVICE 
LEADERS VISIT COLUMBIA DEBRIS SEARCHERS IN EAST TEXAS 

     News media are invited to meet with NASA Administrator 
Sean O'Keefe, U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy 
Secretary James R. Moseley, and U.S. Forest Service Chief 
Dale Bosworth during their visit to Space Shuttle Columbia 
search and recovery operation sites in East Texas on 
Wednesday, April 16.

The officials will observe ground operations, thank search 
personnel for their significant contributions to the 
recovery effort, and receive an update on the nearly 11-week 
operation.

Media are invited to witness operations with the group 
during a morning visit to an active search site in the 
vicinity of Palestine, Texas. The group is scheduled to 
arrive in Palestine about 10 a.m. CDT.

A media opportunity is also scheduled for approximately 4:30 
p.m. CDT at the Lufkin Emergency Operations Center, 415 S. 
First St. Lufkin, Texas.

News media may cover the group's evening visit to the 
Incident Command Post at Hemphill, Texas. The group will 
arrive at the camp about 6 p.m. CDT, to receive briefings 
and have dinner with search teams.

Media should contact the Lufkin Joint Information Center at: 
936/699-1019/1094 to participate in events. While in the 
field, media must follow the safety directions of the search 
team leader and stay with escorts.

For information about NASA and the Columbia Accident 
Investigation on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

                            * * *

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---