June 12, 2008 John Yembrick Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0602 john.yembrick-1@xxxxxxxx MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-119 ASTRONAUT PEGGY WHITSON AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS IN WASHINGTON WASHINGTON -- NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the first female commander of the International Space Station, will be visiting Washington on Wednesday, June 18, to participate in NASA Day on the Hill. Whitson will be available for media interviews from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT at NASA Headquarters, 300 E. Street, S.W., Washington. Interested reporters should contact John Yembrick at 202-358-0602 by 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 17, to reserve interview time. Whitson's visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of Sally Ride's historic flight. On June 18, 1983, Ride became the first American woman in space, flying on the space shuttle Challenger. Whitson, who returned to Earth April 19 after approximately six months on the station, has accumulated more time in orbit than any U.S. astronaut. She conducted five spacewalks on Expedition 16, her most recent mission, and one on her previous flight. Whitson has totaled 39 hours and 46 minutes of spacewalking time, more than any other woman. NASA Day on the Hill is an interactive, all-day public event on Capitol Hill that highlights NASA's Earth and space science portfolio, aeronautics research, and continued leadership in human spaceflight and exploration. Whitson will give a presentation about her spaceflight experience and NASA's future at 6 p.m. in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. Whitson's biography is available at: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/whitson.html For more information on the space station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
