GREENBELT, MD -- Astronauts flying on a space shuttle mission to

service the Hubble Space Telescope for a final time will speak to

middle school students across America simultaneously at 1:15 p.m.

EDT, April 30, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,

Md.



Through NASA's Digital Learning Network (DLN), students at five middle

schools and an invited student audience at Goddard will talk to the

shuttle crew. Topics of discussion will include details about the

upcoming STS-125 mission to service Hubble. Astronauts also will

discuss career diversity among the crew. Each has a doctorate degree

in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics discipline.



The goal of the DLN is to enhance NASA's capability to deliver unique

content by linking students and educators with NASA experts. The DLN

offers videoconferencing or Webcasting at no charge, providing

interactive educational experiences to students and teachers from

kindergarten to college across the country and around the world.



Schools selected to participate are Junior High School 145 Arturo

Toscanini, Bronx, New York; Brenham Junior High School, Brenham,

Texas; and South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency, Shelton,

Washington. Two NASA Explorer Schools, Greencastle-Antrim Middle

School, Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and Middle School at Parkside,

Jackson, Michigan, also will participate.



Anyone can view the 45-minute event live at http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/.



For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/hubble



For information about NASA education, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/education