Mar 9 2012
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 12-063 NASA LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION TO DEVELOP SPACE APPS
WASHINGTON -- NASA, governments around the world and civil society organizations will co-host the International Space Apps Challenge on April 21-22 with events across seven continents and in space. The apps competition will bring people together to exploit openly available data collected by space agencies around the world to create innovative solutions to longstanding global challenges. An initiative of the U.S. Open Government National Action Plan, the challenge will showcase the impact scientists and citizens can have by working together to solve challenging problems that affect every person on Earth. Events will take place in San Francisco; Exeter, U.K.; Melbourne, Australia; Sao Paulo; Nairobi, Kenya; Jakarta, Indonesia; Tokyo; McMurdo Station, Antarctica; and the International Space Station. "We are excited to convene the International Space Apps Challenge as one of the U.S. commitments to the Open Government Partnership to explore new ways that open space data can help the planet and further space exploration," said Deborah Diaz, deputy chief information officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Open data includes statistics, facts and other information that is freely available to the public. Teams will compete with others around the world to use open data to design innovative solutions to a predetermined series of global challenges. Specific challenges are being compiled and will soon be available. "The International Space Apps Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for individuals around the world to create new ways to use space-derived data to save lives, transform industries, and connect us more deeply with our world," said Michael Green, general manager of the Australian Government's Space Policy Unit. "Space applications technology underpins critical sectors such as navigation, communications, emergency management, agriculture and climate science." Participants will be free to develop mobile apps, software and hardware, data visualization, and platform solutions that could contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on earth. "Open Government is more than simply releasing data. It is a fundamental shift in the way government interacts with citizens," said Chris Vein, deputy U.S. chief technology officer for Government Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. "This apps challenge is an opportunity for governments to involve citizens in solving some of the most challenging problems facing our Nation and the world, and the White House is excited that NASA is at the forefront of this worldwide effort." The U.S. National Action Plan is part of the Open Government Partnership, a multilateral initiative to promote transparency, participation and collaboration between governments and citizens. President Obama and other heads of state committed to these principles on the margins of the United Nations in September 2011.
RELEASE: 12-075 NASA AND THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM INVITE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS TO WELCOME SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will invite 30 of their social media followers to the first "NASA Social" on April 19 to welcome space shuttle Discovery to the national collection. Registration opens at noon EDT Thursday, March 15, and closes at noon Friday, March 16. Thirty participants will be selected randomly from online registrations.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-040 NASA CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST TO VISIT TUSTIN'S L'GARDE INC THURSDAY
WASHINGTON -- NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck will visit L'Garde Inc., in Tustin, Calif., on Thursday, March 15, at 9 a.m. PDT. Peck's visit will highlight ways government can partner with small business to help create the jobs of the future through investment in science and technology. L'Garde has received several contracts with NASA on a variety of projects, including the creation of inflatable structures for radio frequency antennas and solar arrays. In 1996, L'Garde flew the Inflatable Antenna Experiment aboard space shuttle flight STS-77. Most recently, L'Garde was awarded a NASA Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) contract to build and fly a large solar sail in 2014. Solar sails are a possible alternative to conventional fuels for interplanetary flight. The L'Garde TDM solar sail will demonstrate the potential of sails for use in future missions and pave the way toward new space capabilities. L'Garde is partnering with commercial and government groups for this effort.
