Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier answers to discuss the status of the next space shuttle launch.

Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier (left) answers a question from the media during a news conference following the Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to discuss the status of the next space shuttle launch. The meeting assessed preparations for shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. At right are Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Gerstenmaier confirmed the launch date of May 31 for the STS-124 mission. On the mission, the crew will deliver and install the Japanese Experiment Module – Pressurized Module and Japanese Remote Manipulator System. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann