Debra Rahn

Headquarters, Washington, DC September 21, 1998

(Phone: 202/358-1638)

George Diller/Lisa Malone

Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone: 407/867-2468)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N98-59

LEONARDO MPLM TRANSFER CEREMONY AT KSC SEPT. 25

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and the President of the

Italian Space Agency, Sergio De Julio, will meet at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, FL, on Friday, Sept. 25 for a ceremonial event
transferring the "Leonardo" Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM)
from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to NASA.

The MPLM, a reusable logistics carrier, is the primary

delivery system used to resupply the International Space Station
(ISS) and return Station cargo requiring a pressurized environment.
It is one of Italy's major contributions to the Station program.
The cylindrical module is approximately 21 feet long, 15 feet in
diameter, and weighs almost 4.5 tons.

Leonardo will be carried to the International Space Station

aboard the Space Shuttle and will be temporarily docked to the
Station once on orbit, providing a working environment for two crew
members. It can carry up to 20,000 pounds of supplies, science
experiments, spare parts and other logistical components for ISS.

A ceremonial signing of a document signifying the transfer of

Leonardo, the first of three MPLM carriers, will be held at the
International Space Station Center, located adjacent to the Space
Station Processing Facility at KSC. This activity will begin at 11
a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. Participating in the ceremony will be:

Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator

Sergio De Julio, President, Italian Space Agency
Roy D. Bridges, Director, Kennedy Space Center

At noon, media will be escorted to the Space Station

Processing Facility to see Leonardo and for a photo/interview
opportunity. Available will be:
Daniel S. 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 W. McClain, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Space
Development
John D. Schumacher, NASA Associate Administrator of External
Relations
Randy Brinkley, NASA International Space Station Program Manager
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
Royce Mitchell, Boeing Deputy Program Manager for International
Space Station

Astronauts Chris Hadfield and Robert Curbeam, members of the

Space Shuttle crew that will launch Leonardo in late 1999, as well
as Italian astronaut Umberto Guidoni, will be present.

Media representatives should be at the KSC Press Site at 10

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 are allowed. Also, no food,
tobacco, lighters, matches or knives can be permitted inside the
high bay. Media will be returned to the KSC Press Site by 1 p.m.

Those media needing accreditation should contact the NASA News

Center at KSC at 407/867-2468 before the close of business,
Thursday, Sept. 24.

-end-