May 23 2012
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 12-165 "WHAT IS NASA, ALEX?" NEW TREBEK VIDEO PROMOTES NASA IN YOUR LIFE
WASHINGTON -- The king of quiz shows, Alex Trebek, is helping answer the question, "How does NASA affect our daily lives?" The host of the long-running syndicated program "Jeopardy" is featured in a new public service announcement released Wednesday. In the video, Trebek points out that much of the technologies we rely on in our daily lives come from those developed by NASA for space exploration. The video will air on NASA Television and the agency's website. The new video was announced by NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck during a NASA-Cleveland "Adopt a City" manufacturing initiative event in Cleveland. "It's an honor to add Alex Trebek to our list of space technology spinoff supporters. As NASA partners today with small manufacturers in Ohio to solve tough technical problems with their products, there's potential for NASA technology to help improve everything from better household fans to stronger ceramics for dentistry," said Peck. "NASA technologies work for us here on Earth, solving everyday problems -- saving lives, creating jobs and making our lives better." At the event, NASA, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) also announced nine small and medium-sized Ohio manufacturers that will receive NASA assistance to solve technical problems with new or existing products. NASA is committed to providing 400 hours of technical assistance from its science and engineering work force to offer potential solutions to the selected companies for specific technical challenges they are facing with a new or existing product. In addition to access to NASA experts, the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are making $450,000 in low interest rate loans available to the companies to help with costs associated with participation in the program. This initiative is part of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy "Strong Cities, Strong Communities" effort with this partnership developed as a local "Adopt a City" program. With the new video, Trebek joins the ranks of celebrities such as musicians Will.i.am and Norah Jones, and comedian Stephen Colbert who have recently partnered with the agency to tell audiences how NASA-related technology, or spinoffs, benefit life today on Earth.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-094 UPDATED COVERAGE FOR NASA/SPACEX MISSION TO STATION
WASHINGTON -- The SpaceX second demonstration mission for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program is under way, and NASA is updating its coverage of the Dragon spacecraft's flight to the International Space Station. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon lifted off at 3:44 a.m. EDT Tuesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During the flight, the Dragon capsule will conduct a series of checkout procedures to test and prove its systems, including the capability to rendezvous and berth with the space station. One of the primary objectives for the flight is a flyby of the space station at a distance of approximately 1.5 miles to validate the operation of sensors and flight systems necessary for a safe rendezvous and approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the ability to abort the rendezvous. Once Dragon successfully proves these capabilities, it will be cleared to berth with the space station. NASA TV MISSION COVERAGE Thursday, May 24 (Flight Day 3): Live NASA Television coverage from NASA's Johnson Space Center mission control in Houston as the Dragon spacecraft performs its flyby of the International Space Station to test its systems begins at 2:30 a.m. EDT and will continue until the Dragon passes the vicinity of the station. A news briefing will be held at 10 a.m. following the activities. Friday, May 25 (Flight Day 4): Live coverage of the rendezvous and berthing of the Dragon spacecraft to the station begins at 2 a.m. and will continue through the capture and berthing of the Dragon to the station's Harmony node. A news briefing will be held at 1 p.m. after Dragon is secured to the station. Saturday, May 26 (Flight Day 5): Live coverage of the hatch opening and entry of the Dragon spacecraft begins at 5:30 a.m. and will include a crew news conference at 11:25 a.m. NASA TV also will provide live coverage of the departure and reentry of the Dragon spacecraft once a date is determined.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-095 NASA HOSTS GLOBAL VIEWING EVENTS FOR RARE ASTRONOMICAL REUNION
WASHINGTON -- NASA Television will air a live program starting at 5:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 5, showcasing the celestial phenomenon of the planet Venus trekking across the face of the sun. The rare event, known as the Venus Transit, will not occur again until 2117. The transit occurs when Venus passes directly between Earth and the sun. Viewers will see Venus as a small dot gliding slowly across our nearest star. Historically, viewed by luminaries like Captain James Cook and even Benjamin Franklin, this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system. There have been 53 transits since 2000 B.C. The last time the event occurred was on June 8, 2004, watched by millions worldwide. This year, observers on all seven continents will be in position to see it. NASA TV coverage will include updates from NASA centers across the country and locations from some of the 148 countries hosting viewing activities. Images taken of the transit from the International Space Station and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Solar Dynamics Observatory also will be aired with scientists sharing their perspectives and the historical significance of the event. NASA EDGE, a behind-the-scenes, informative webcast, will air the transit live from Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This location offers the best viewing position of the entire transit.
