For Release: Feb. 22, 1996

Kathryn Cataldo
Office of Media Services
(205) 544-0034

NOTE TO ASSIGNMENT EDITORS/PRODUCERS: 96-10N

LIVE INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE ON SPACE SHUTTLE
"SATELLITE ON A STRING" MISSION

Columbia’s crew will reel out a half ton satellite 12.8 miles into space on a "string" no thicker than a shoelace. The experiment will study the Earth’s upper atmosphere, ways to generate electricity and other intriguing applications for tethers.

Live and taped interviews are available via satellite with researchers and controllers in NASA’s Tethered Satellite science control center at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama during the mission.

Interviewees can discuss how this tether generates electricity; what the tether could be used for on a Space Station; and how tethered satellites could study the Earth’s ozone layer.

B-roll and animation of the Tether Satellite System are available. NASA TV is located on Space Net 2, Transponder 5, Channel 9 at 69 degrees West longitude. The transponder frequency is 3880 Mhz and the audio subcarrier is 6.8 Mhz.

To request an interview or further information, please contact Kathryn Cataldo at NASA MSFC at 205-544-6381/6382 or 205-544-2188.

**Special Note: The around the clock nature of this mission allowsfor great flexibility to schedule interviews at all hours.