[meteorite-list] NASA to Discuss Today Asteroid Redirect Mission Capture Concept, Next Step in Journey to Mars

[Ron Baalke]

December 17, 2014
     
NASA to Discuss Today Asteroid Redirect Mission Capture Concept, Next 
Step in Journey to Mars

NASA will host a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EST today during which agency 
officials will discuss and answer questions on the selection of an Asteroid 
Redirect Mission concept.

The mission is to retrieve an asteroid mass and redirect it into lunar orbit, 
where astronauts will explore it in the 2020s. The mission will test a number 
of new capabilities needed for future human deep space expeditions, including 
to Mars.

Participants for the media teleconference are:

 * Robert Lightfoot, NASA associate administrator
 * Michele Gates, program director, NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission
 * Lindley Johnson, program executive, NASA's Near Earth Object Program

To participate, media must e-mail their name and affiliation to Trent 
Perrotto at trent.j.perrotto at nasa.gov before 4 p.m.

Audio of the media teleconference will stream live on NASA's website at:

http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio 

Find more information about the Asteroid Redirect Mission at:

www.nasa.gov/asteroidinitiative 

-end-

Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
trent.j.perrotto at nasa.gov