Illinois Astronaut Commands Next Space Shuttle Mission
Newswire Services
April 07, 2009
Veteran space flier Scott Altman, who was born in Lincoln, Ill., and considers Pekin his hometown, will command space shuttle Atlantis' mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Atlantis is targeted to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 12 at 1:31 p.m. EDT.
To cover the launch of Atlantis on-site, U.S. reporters must request credentials for Kennedy by May 1. The deadline for foreign reporters is April 19. Media representatives should submit requests online here.
NASA Television will feature prerecorded individual interviews with the crew members beginning April 20. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit www.nasa.gov/ntv.
Commander Altman is making his second visit to Hubble. He is one of seven astronauts who will fly on the space shuttle's fifth and final servicing mission to Hubble. The 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to make repairs and upgrades to the telescope, extending its life into the next decade.
Altman attended Pekin Community High School and received his bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1981. He received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990.
For Altman's complete biography, click here.
For the latest information about the Hubble servicing mission and crew, visit www.nasa.gov/shuttle.
To cover the launch of Atlantis on-site, U.S. reporters must request credentials for Kennedy by May 1. The deadline for foreign reporters is April 19. Media representatives should submit requests online here.
NASA Television will feature prerecorded individual interviews with the crew members beginning April 20. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit www.nasa.gov/ntv.
Commander Altman is making his second visit to Hubble. He is one of seven astronauts who will fly on the space shuttle's fifth and final servicing mission to Hubble. The 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to make repairs and upgrades to the telescope, extending its life into the next decade.
Altman attended Pekin Community High School and received his bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1981. He received a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990.
For Altman's complete biography, click here.
For the latest information about the Hubble servicing mission and crew, visit www.nasa.gov/shuttle.
Print
Email
