Nov 15 2010
From The Space Library
MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-058
NASA CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY NATIONWIDE
WASHINGTON -- NASA centers across the nation invite journalists and the public to see and hear about the agency's contributions to exploring and protecting our home planet during this year's Earth Day celebrations. A highlight of this year's activities is a weeklong series of exhibits and talks on the National Mall in Washington. Begun in 1970, Earth Day is the annual celebration of the environment and a time to assess work still needed to protect the natural resources of our planet. NASA maintains the world's largest contingent of dedicated Earth scientists and engineers in leading and assisting other agencies in preserving the planet's environment. For a comprehensive listing of NASA's Earth Day activities, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/earthday All times are local. NASA center events include: NASA Headquarters, Washington Saturday, April 17 through Sunday, April 25 (11 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT) -- NASA is participating in the Earth Day Celebration on the National Mall organized by the Earth Day Network. The NASA Village, adjacent to the Smithsonian Metro entrance on the Mall, will feature exhibits, presentations and opportunities to meet NASA Earth scientists throughout the week. Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. Monday, April 19 (1-8 p.m. PDT) -- Reporters and the public are invited to a Green Earth Forum at the Ames Exploration Center to listen to NASA scientists discuss their research and applications projects. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. Wednesday, April 28 (10 a.m.-2 p.m. PDT) -- Highlights include exhibits and displays from a variety of environmental agencies, public utilities, conservation groups, and businesses and an opportunity to recycle personal electronics. Glenn Research Center in Cleveland Sunday, April 18 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT) -- Displays at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will focus on the use of space and aeronautics technology for sustainable energy on Earth, including the NASA-led Renewable Hydrogen Today project to construct a hydrogen fueling station at the Great Lakes Science Center. Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Monday, April 19 (1-2 p.m. EDT) -- Goddard's Digital Learning Network will broadcast a performance of Bella Gaia (Beautiful Earth), a multimedia journey across our planet that combines views of Earth from space, scientific visualization and an original score from director and composer Kenji Williams. NASA scientist Christopher Shuman also provides a first-hand look at the changing face of Antarctica. The performance will be broadcast and streamed live on NASA TV's Education channel at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv. Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Thursday, April 22 (10-11 a.m. PDT) -- A live text-based Earth Day Web chat geared toward students in third through eighth grades will feature Mike Gunson, project scientist for NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission, who will answer questions about how NASA is studying Earth's climate. Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT) -- JPL will join the Earth Day celebration at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif. The event will include exhibits and handouts on NASA's Earth science research. Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. Thursday, April 22 (4-5 p.m. EDT) -- NASA scientist Thomas Charlock will discuss global climate change with teachers during a live webcast on the Digital Learning Network at: http://dln.nasa.gov/dln. Saturday, April 24 (10 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT) -- Exhibits and speakers will be at the Virginia Zoo's Party for the Planet: Earth Day at the Zoo in Norfolk, Va. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Thursday, April 22 (10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CDT) -- Activities on the theme "reducing our carbon footprint include a talk about energy by an expert from the Tennessee Valley Authority, a tree-planting ceremony and an environmental vendor exposition. Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. Tuesday, April 27 (8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. CDT) -- An environmental workshop for elementary school teachers, Helping Our Planet Earth: It's Up to You and Me, includes classroom activities about animal habitats, "green tips, recycling, and other topics.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-061
NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE CREW IN WASHINGTON, AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS
WASHINGTON -- NASA Headquarters in Washington will welcome space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 astronauts for a visit from Tuesday, April 20, through Friday, April 23. The crew wrapped up a 14-day journey in space of almost 5.7 million miles on Feb. 21. Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken will share mission highlights with NASA employees, school children, college students and the general public while in the nation's capital. Reporters interested in covering the events or interviewing a crew member should contact NASA's Office of Communications at 202-358-1100. To kick off the visit, the crew will give a postflight presentation to NASA employees, their families and reporters at 1 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, at NASA Headquarters' James E. Webb Auditorium, 300 E. St. SW. The crew's presentation will air on NASA Television's education channel. If space shuttle Discovery's landing coverage precludes live coverage, NASA TV will replay the presentation later in the day. The crew also will attend the Washington Nationals game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at Nationals Park. The astronauts will participate in pregame activities and view the game, which is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. Virts will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and be available for interviews upon request. The STS-130 mission to the International Space Station included three spacewalks and the installation of the Tranquility node, a module that provides additional room for crew members and houses many of the space station's life support and environmental control systems. Attached to Tranquility is a cupola with seven windows that offers a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft. Tranquility and its cupola are the final major U.S. portions of the station. The orbiting laboratory now is approximately 90 percent complete. For NASA TV schedule information and links to streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-019
NASA ANNOUNCES NEWS TELECON TO DISCUSS HUBBLE IMAGES OF PLUTO
WASHINGTON -- NASA will hold a news media telecon at 1 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 4, to discuss the latest Hubble images of the distant dwarf planet Pluto. These detailed images will help astronomers better interpret more than three decades of Pluto observations from other telescopes. The panelists are: - Marc Buie, scientist, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, Colo. - Mike Brown, professor of planetary astronomy, Caltech, Pasadena, Calif. To reserve a telephone line, journalists should e-mail their name, media affiliation and telephone number to J.D. Harrington at: j.d.harrington@nasa.gov Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio
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