CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Kennedy Space Center will hold a media event at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Oct. 31, to highlight the next pressurized element to be launched to the International Space Station. The European Space Agency's Columbus module will fly aboard space shuttle Atlantis on the STS-122 mission, targeted for launch Dec. 6.

Columbus will expand the research facilities of the station, providing crew members and scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments. It is the European Space Agency's largest single contribution to the orbiting outpost. The module is approximately 23 feet long and 15 feet wide, allowing it to hold 10 large racks of experiments.

During the event, reporters at the Space Station Processing Facility will have the opportunity to speak with mission managers involved in processing Columbus for flight. The module is scheduled to be transferred to Launch Pad 39A in early November, in preparation for its journey to the station.

Media attending the event should arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 1:30 p.m. for transportation to the processing facility. Media without permanent Kennedy credentials should submit their request via the online accreditation Web site at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

The processing facility is an operational area. All participants must be properly dressed in full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet, and shirts with sleeves.

For the latest information about the STS-122 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts122