Nov 28 2012
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 12-400 SPACE STARS: GENERATIONS -- LOCKHART, SHATNER, WHEATON VIDEOS CELEBRATE NASA SPINOFF BENEFITS TO LIFE ON EARTH
WASHINGTON -- June Lockhart, William Shatner and Wil Wheaton are the latest entertainment icons featured in new public service announcements that highlight how some of NASA's outstanding accomplishments in space are used to improve our life on Earth. Spanning generations of silver screen and television portrayals of humanity's exploration of space, the accomplished actors talk about how science fiction has become science fact, resulting in new commercial products and services that are tangible returns on investments in space technology. Much of the technology we rely on daily was developed by NASA for space exploration and then adapted or enhanced for use here on Earth. This includes many technologies used in schools, homes, cars, computers and American industry. "It's an honor to have such talented space entertainment legends donate their time to voice support for the spinoff benefits NASA brings to the nation and the world," said NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "As we turn science fiction concepts into real technologies for use in NASA missions, we're constantly creating 'spinoffs' -- commercialized products and services that have practical, down-to-Earth applications of immediate benefit to the public." The new videos are the latest in a series of celebrity educational videos aimed at increasing public awareness of the return on investment in space technology while encouraging the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, education and mathematics.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-221 NASA, ROSCOSMOS HOLD BRIEFINGS AND INTERVIEWS DEC. 5 FOR YEARLONG SPACE STATION MISSION
HOUSTON -- NASA and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will hold two briefings on Wednesday, Dec. 5, beginning at 8 a.m. CST, to preview the upcoming yearlong expedition by two crew members aboard the International Space Station. NASA Television and the agency's website will carry the briefings live. Scott Kelly of NASA and Mikhail Kornienko of Roscosmos will launch to the station in early 2015 to begin a yearlong stay aboard the orbiting laboratory. This will be the longest time an American has spent in space on a single mission. Both briefings will take place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and will include participants at Johnson and the Russian Mission Control Center outside of Moscow. Questions will be taken during both briefings from media at NASA centers and the Russian control center. A limited number of questions from media also will be taken via Johnson's phone lines. The programmatic news conference at 8 a.m. will include: -- Michael Suffredini, International Space Station program manager -- Julie Robinson, International Space Station program scientist -- Robert Behnken, NASA chief astronaut -- Alexey Krasnov, director of Piloted Space Programs Department, Roscosmos -- Sergei Krikalev, director, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center -- Igor Ushakov, director, Institute for Biomedical Problems The crew news conference at 9 a.m. will include Kelly and Kornienko.
