LEONARDO MPLM TRANSFER CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT KSC DEC. 3

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin and the President of the Italian Space Agency, Sergio De Julio, will meet at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Dec. 3 for a ceremonial event transferring the "Leonardo" Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) from the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) to NASA.

The MPLM, a reusable logistics carrier, will be the primary delivery system used to resupply and return station cargo requiring a pressurized environment. It is one of Italy’s major contributions to the International Space Station Program. The cylindrical module is approximately 21 feet long and 15 feet in diameter, weighting almost 4.5 tons excluding its capability to hold up to 20,000 pounds of contents. Launched in the Space Shuttle’s payload bay, it will be docked to the International Space Station once on orbit. It will transport supplies, science experiments, spare parts and other logistical components to the International Space Station.

A ceremonial signing of a document signifying the transfer of Leonardo, the first of three MPLM carriers, is to be held at the International Space Station Center located adjacent to the Space Station Processing Facility. This activity will begin at 5:45 a.m. following the STS-88 launch on Thursday, Dec. 3. Participating in the ceremony will be:

• Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator
• Sergio De Julio, President, Italian Space Agency
• Roy D. Bridges, Director, NASA Kennedy Space Center

After the ceremony, media will be escorted to the Space Station Processing Facility to see Leonardo and for a photo/interview opportunity. Available will be:

• Daniel Goldin, NASA Administrator
• Sergio De Julio, President, Italian Space Agency
• Roy D. Bridges, Director, Kennedy Space Center
• Joseph H. Rothenberg, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight
• Gretchen McClain, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator, Space Development
• Randy Brinkley, NASA International Space Station Program Manager
• John D. Schumacher, NASA Associate Administrator for External Relations
• Giovanni Rum, Advisor to the ASI President
• Silvana Rabbia, ASI MPLM Program Manager
• Giuseppe Viriglio, Head, Alenia Aerospazio Space Division
• Saverio Lioy, Head, Alenia Space Infrastructure Program
• Doug Stone, Boeing Program Manager for International Space Station

Italian astronaut Umberto Guidoni will also be present.

Media should be at the KSC Press Site at 5 a.m. for transportation to the International Space Station Center. Since media will later be taken inside the high bay of the Space Station Processing Facility, long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. No shorts or sandals can be allowed. Also, no food, tobacco, lighters, matches, knives or graphite pencils can be permitted inside the high bay.

STS-88 mission badges will be used for this event. Those media needing accreditation should contact the NASA News Center at KSC at 407/867-2468.