Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@xxxxxxxx
Jay Bolden
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
jay.e.bolden@xxxxxxxx
Eight astronaut candidates who arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston this week to begin training will participate in a news conference with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at 10 a.m. CDT (11 a.m. EDT) Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The news conference will be a rare opportunity for journalists to speak with the candidates, as they will be unavailable for media interviews while they focus on training for the next two years.
During the event, news media representatives also will be able to interview NASA officials involved in astronaut selection and training, and visit the training facilities at Johnson.
The astronaut candidates are Josh A. Cassada and Victor J. Glover, both lieutenant commanders in the U.S. Navy; Tyler N. "Nick" Hague, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force; Christina M. Hammock; Nicole Aunapu Mann, a major in the U.S. Marine Corps; Anne C. McClain and Andrew R. Morgan, both majors in the U.S. Army; and Jessica U. Meir.
The candidates were selected come from the second largest pool of applicants NASA has ever received -- more than 6,000.
During the next two years, the group will participate in a variety of technical training activities at space centers and remote locations around the globe to prepare for missions that will help the agency push the boundaries of exploration and travel to new destinations in the solar system.
To attend the event, media representatives must call the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 2 p.m. CDT Monday, Aug. 19.
Reporters and NASA social media followers may submit questions to the candidates on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ in advance using the hashtag #askNASA. NASA will open a thread on its Facebook page where questions may also be posted. The event will air live on NASA Television and the NASA website.
For more information about the astronaut candidates and details on the astronaut selection process, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/2013astroclass
Follow the group's activities on Twitter:
@AstroClass2013
For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information, visit:
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