NASA chief to address luncheon prior to final shuttle launch, July 1

NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. will address a National Press Club luncheon on July 1, one week before the final scheduled space shuttle launch.

He will discuss America's continued commitment to leadership in human spaceflight and NASA's plans to extend human presence beyond low-Earth orbit.

Bolden has flown aboard the space shuttle four times between 1986 and 1994, twice as commander. His flights included deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope and the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission, which featured a cosmonaut as a member of his crew.

Bolden also had a long career with the Marine Corps, and was a member of NASA's Astronaut Office for 14 years.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. with the speech beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for Press Club members, $29 for guests of members, and $36 for general admission. To reserve tickets, please e-mail [email protected] or call 202-662-7501. Payment is required at the time of reservation.

National Press Club luncheons are Webcast live on www.press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC).

Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter, or email a question in advance, with BOLDEN in the subject line, to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on July 1.

Upcoming Luncheons:

June 13 -- Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary

June 14 -- Brent Scowcroft, Fmr. National Security Adviser, Gerald R. Ford Foundation Journalism Awards

June 24 -- Sheila Bair, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

June 30 -- Gary Sinise, Actor, The Gary Sinise Foundation