Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC                       April 9, 1999
(Phone:  202/358-1638)

Carlos Fontanot
John Ira Petty
NASA Moscow Office
(U.S. phone 256/961-6225)

NOTE TO EDITORS:  N99-18

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SERVICE MODULE ROLLOUT SET

     The formal rollout and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
Service Module element of the International Space Station will be
held April 26 at RSC-Energia in Moscow.  News media
representatives wishing to attend must register by Monday, April
12.

     Top NASA, Russian Space Agency, RSC-Energia and European
Space Agency space station officials will hold a press conference
immediately before the rollout.  After the ceremonies, the Service
Module will be prepared for shipment to its launch site at
Baikonur, Kazakhstan.  It is scheduled to be launched later this
year for linkup as the third element of the International Space
Station.

     Media representatives will be welcomed at 9 a.m. Moscow time
at GONTI Hall at RSC-Energia for a visit to Energia's space
museum.  A film also will be shown.  The press conference is
scheduled for 10 a.m. Moscow time at the hall.  The ribbon-cutting
ceremony will follow in an adjacent room where the Service Module
will be housed.

     The news conference and ceremony will be recorded and
replayed on NASA Television later in the day.

     Media representatives wishing to cover the event must provide
NASA public affairs in Moscow with their name, affiliation, date
of birth, citizenship, passport number and passport issue and
expiration dates.  For RSC-Energia security clearance, the
information must be received no later than Monday, April 12.  It
can be transmitted via e-mail to carlos.fontanot1@jsc.nasa.gov, or
john.i.petty1@jsc.nasa.gov.  The information also can be sent by
fax to U.S. phone number, 256/961-6233.

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