Allard Beutel<br />Headquarters, Washington June 13, 2003<br />(Phone: 202/358-4769)<br /><br /><br />Tracy Young<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br />(Phone: 321/867-2468)<br /><br /><br />RELEASE: N03-059<br /><br /><br />NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE STATION MODULE WELCOMING CEREMONY<br /><br /><br /> A ceremony to highlight the arrival of two major <br />components of the International Space Station is scheduled at <br />9 a.m., Wednesday, June 18 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).<br /><br /><br />NASA's Node 2, built by the European Space Agency (ESA) in <br />Italy arrived at KSC on June 1. It will be the next <br />pressurized module installed on the Station. The pressurized <br />module of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), named "Kibo" <br />(Hope) arrived at KSC on June 4. It is Japan's primary <br />contribution to the Station. The ceremony will include the <br />official transfer of ownership signing of Node 2 between the <br />ESA and NASA.<br /><br /><br />Speakers at the ceremony include, NASA's Michael C. <br />Kostelnik, Deputy Associate Administrator for International <br />Space Station and Shuttle Programs and William Gerstenmaier, <br />International Space Station Program Manager; Alan Thirkettle, <br />International Space Station Program Manager for Node 2, ESA; <br />Andrea Lorenzoni, International Space Station Program Manager <br />for Node 2, Italian Space Agency; Kuniaki Shiraki, JEM <br />Project Manager, National Aerospace and Development Agency of <br />Japan.<br /><br /><br />Media needing accreditation should submit their request, on <br />news affiliation letterhead, via facsimile to the KSC Press <br />Site at: 321/867-2692 by 4 p.m. (EDT) June 16. Request should <br />include: full name, title, social security number, <br />date/place of birth, and citizenship. Badged media planning <br />to attend should contact Tracy Young at: 321/867-9284.<br /><br /><br />Those planning to attend are requested to wear long pants and <br />flat, closed-toe shoes. Departure for the ceremony will be at <br />8:30 a.m. EDT, June 18 from the Pass & I.D. Building at Gate <br />3 on State Road 405, east of U.S. 1 south of Titusville, Fla. <br />For more information, contact the KSC Press Site at: 321/867-<br />2468.<br /><br /><br />-end-