NASA Anniversary, Shuttle Crew and Science Highlighted at NextFest
WASHINGTON – NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale will unveil the agency’s 50th anniversary logo and participate in an X PRIZE Foundation announcement at WIRED Magazine’s NextFest at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Sept. 13-16. The agency will showcase its current and future technologies, and NextFest attendees can meet the crew of the most recent space shuttle flight.
WIRED NextFest features the latest innovations in products and technologies in many areas where NASA plays a leading role.
Dale and astronaut Scott Kelly will introduce the space shuttle’s STS-118 crew, including mission specialist and former educator Barbara R. Morgan, at NextFest’s opening ceremonies on Education Day, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. PDT in the South Hall Plaza. Education Day is open only to school groups and members of the media. Morgan and the other crew members of the STS-118 mission will sign autographs throughout NextFest in the Exploration Pavilion.
Deputy Administrator Dale will participate in an announcement regarding the X PRIZE Foundation at the X PRIZE stage at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 13. She will unveil the NASA 50th anniversary logo at 12:30 p.m. at the mini stage in the Exploration Pavilion. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin also will speak.
Throughout the show, attendees can see a see a four-foot model of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The observatory is designed to study the faint light from objects at the farthest reaches of space and time and is targeted for launch in 2013.
NASA will exhibit a 3-D panorama of Mars and demonstrate the all-terrain technology in the current Mars rovers. Visitors can learn about experimental rovers that are helping scientists learn how robots could evaluate potential outposts on the moon or Mars.
A video camera and monitor display from NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy will reveal remarkable temperature changes in the infrared spectrum on the faces of visitor volunteers.
An interactive assembly project features Constellation, NASA’s next generation of human spacecraft. Many other mission-oriented NASA activities also will on display.
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