REVISED: PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
*Astronauts Mark L. Polansky,
Koichi Wakata, David A.Wolf, Thomas H. Marshburn

The speech and Q & A will be in English

" Space Shuttle Mission STS-127"

*Please note the number of speakers has been reduced and the notice revised.

The Press Club strives to attract newsmakers from around the world; this time we've done even better with newsmakers from space. Fresh from beyond Earth's atmosphere, crew from Space Shuttle Mission STS-127, including Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, will be at the press club on December 4 to describe their experiences and accomplishments, which included completing the installation of Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module, aboard the International Space Station. Mission Commander Mark Polansky and Mission Specialist Wakata will lead the presentation, which includes a 20-minute video on the flight, which took place over 15 days this past July. Wakata will also talk about his four-month stay aboard the ISS where he worked on such experiments as riding a magic carpet and wearing special underpants for a month without washing them. Other members of the crew will be on hand for brief comments and Q & A. It's an experience sure to be out of this world.

Polansky, a New Jersey native, was a test pilot for the United States Air Force before joining NASA. He has flown on three Space Shuttle missions. Wakata, who grew up in Saitama, earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering from Kyushu University and worked for Japan Airlines before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 1992 by what was then the National Space Development Agency of Japan. A veteran of three space flights plus a long stay aboard the space station, Wakata has logged a total of 159 days in space.

MENU
Sandwich Plate: Tandoori spiced chicken wrap with cucumber raita, roasted red peppers, bean sprouts, salad & pickles
Hot Plate: Sautéed salmon with potato boulangere, spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms & red wine, shallot sauce, seasonal salad

Koichi Wakata, Astronaut.

Astronauts, Thomas H. Marshburn, David A.Wolf and Mark L. Polansky.