NASA to Air Stephen Colbert Message on Eve of Shuttle Launch

NASA to Air Stephen Colbert Message on Eve of Shuttle Launch

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA will broadcast a special message from comedian Stephen Colbert on Monday, Aug. 24, as the space shuttle Discovery prepares to deliver the COLBERT treadmill to the International Space Station.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

The message will air on NASA Television after the shuttle's fueling commentary concludes at approximately 7:15 p.m. EDT.

The name Colbert received the most entries in NASA's online poll to name the station's Node 3 module, so NASA named its new space station treadmill the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT. NASA named the module Tranquility.

Colbert, the host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," took an interest in the poll and urged his viewers to suggest his name, which received the most entries.

Discovery and its seven-member crew are set to launch at 1:36 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 25, on a 13-day mission to deliver scientific experiments, equipment and supplies to the station.

   For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:                           http://www.nasa.gov/ntv    After the initial broadcast, the video also will be available at:                    http://www.youtube.com/NASATelevision    For more information about the Node 3 module naming poll, visit:            http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html    For more information about the COLBERT treadmill, visit:   

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/colberttreadmill.html

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: NASA

CONTACT: John Yembrick, Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-1100,
john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov; or Allard Beutel, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,
+1-321-867-2468, allard.beutel@nasa.gov, both of NASA

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov/

---

Profile: International Entertainment