NASA astronaut Jack Fischer and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who are targeted to launch to the International Space Station in March, will participate in a news conference at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The news conference will air live on NASA Television and stream on the agency’s website.
Fischer, a first-time space flyer, and veteran cosmonaut Yurchikhin will launch to the space station in late March from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to round out Expedition 51.
Media who wish to participate by telephone should call Johnson’s newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Those following the briefing on social media can ask questions using the hashtag #askNASA.
After the news conference, interview opportunities with Fischer are available in person or by phone. To request credentials to attend in person, or to reserve an interview opportunity, media must contact Johnson’s newsroom by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28.
Fischer, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, was selected in July 2009 as a member of the 20th NASA astronaut class and completed astronaut training in 2011. Prior to becoming an astronaut, the Colorado native graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering. He went on to receive a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998. He has been a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) and worked in the International Space Station Operations, International Space Station Integration, Soyuz and Exploration branches of the Astronaut Office.
During their planned five-month mission, Fischer and Yurchikhin will take part in approximately 250 research investigations and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth in order to advance scientific knowledge of Earth, space, physical, and biological sciences. Science conducted on the space station continues to yield benefits for humanity and will enable future long-duration human and robotic exploration into deep space, including the agency’s Journey to Mars.
The Expedition 51 crew members will share their flight experiences on Instagram at:
http://instagram.com/iss
To follow Fischer on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/Astro2Fish
For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
For more information about the International Space Station and its crews, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/station
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Kathryn Hambleton
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
kathryn.hambleton@nasa.gov
Jenny Knotts
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
norma.j.knotts@nasa.gov