February 7, 2005

February 11 Math and Science Odyssey 8th Graders at Antelope Valley College----The Antelope Valley is the home of the Math Science Engineering and Technology Consortium , a collaborative effort that is focused on education and workforce development. On Friday, February 11, 2005, one of the most exciting student events of this consortium, the Math and Science Odyssey, will take place at the Antelope Valley College campus in Lancaster. The Odyssey, originated by NASA, is now self-sustaining via local support and gives eighth grade students a free but structured time to explore careers in fields related to math and science by providing them with a unique opportunity to meet career role models in a variety of technical professions. At 2:00 p.m. the students communicate with an airborne role model overhead- a NASA pilot - and observe a fly-over of one of Dryden's research aircraft. This year 250 students from 23 schools are expected to attend. For more information: http://odyssey.avc.edu/

February 14th  Application Deadline for NASA Summer High School Program---The NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (NSHARP) is celebrating 25 years of selecting high-achieving students to serve as apprentices in a variety of NASA professions. All NASA centers and several universities participate in NSHARP. The apprenticeship runs approximately eight weeks during the summer. Students must reside within a 50-mile radius of a NASA center. Applications are available at http://www.nasasharp.com  and must be submitted by Feb. 14, 2005.

Preview a New Spacecraft for Space Exploration---The Nation's Vision for Space Exploration sets a goal of developing a new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) by 2014 that is capable of carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit and  a goal of landing astronauts on the Moon no later than 2020.  The CEV represents one building block in a future exploration architecture that can send astronauts to the moon and form the basis  for exploration missions to other destinations. Companies, individuals and economic development organizations interested in this future spacecraft can get an advance look at the upcoming Request For Proposals (RFP) here: http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgibin/eps/sol.cgi?acqid=113638#Draft%20Document

NASA Hardware to Support Virgin Atlantic's Global Flyer Round-the-World Flight---Space-based Telemetry and Range Safety (STARS) hardware recently was sent from Dryden to Florida to support Global Flyer communications through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). The Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer aircraft is a single engine turbofan aircraft specifically designed and build by Scaled Composites of Mojave, California for non-stop global circumnavigation by a solo pilot with no passengers. The Global Flyer website http://www.virginatlanticglobalflyer.com/ describes STARS this way: "a new experimental NASA communication system has been installed." Virgin Atlantic's Global Flyer with pilot Steve Fossett is expected to depart from the aircraft's base in Salina, Kansas later this month.

NASA Dryden F-15B Jet to Support Space Shuttle Return to Flight Efforts---The F-15B Research Testbed aircraft is currently being readied to support NASA's Space Shuttle return to flight effort. A series of experiments known as LIFT (Lifting Insulating Foam Trajectory) will be flown to help researchers understand how small (from 1 to 5 inches) pieces of insulating foam behave at high speed by simulating shuttle launch conditions. The flights are scheduled to begin this month.

"How to Work with the Media" Student Seminar for High School Robotics Teams---Last week Dryden's Office of Academic Investments hosted a seminar in Palmdale, California to prepare students to effectively tell their stories. The event was part of the NASA-sponsored Robotics Education Project called FIRST (For Inspiration in Recognition of Science & Technology). In attendance were educators and Robotics Team Members from: Highland High, Lancaster High,  and Tehachapi High Schools. Adelphia television news anchor Bob Montague, Jim Skeen, a writer for the Los Angeles Daily News and Yoab Martinez of the Hispanic newspaper La Prensa  explained the media interview process from the perspective of the journalist.  NASA Dryden's Beth Hagenauer demonstrated how to write an effective news release. Carmen Richard, student media marketing leader for the Lancaster, California High School team, offered encouragement to members of newer teams from other local high schools.

For more information and photos, please visit the NASA Web Portal:
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/robotics_seminar.html

NASA Explorer School Teachers Visit Dryden Flight Research Center---Teachers from Edwards Middle School, a NASA Explorer School at Edwards, California recently toured Dryden Flight Research Center. The middle school teachers were given an up-close-and-personal planeside briefing on the Pathfinder-Plus solar aircraft, a demonstration of life support equipment for astronauts and pilots of high-altitude aircraft and received lesson plans that address life science and solar aircraft technology. Dryden pre-college officer Michelle Davis and NASA Explorer Schools coordinator Linda Tomczuk arranged the professional-development tour as part of an expansion of the NASA Explorer School program to involve all the teachers at the school.

Visit photos on-line at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/newsphotos/edwards_teachers_tour.html
For more information about NASA's Explorer Schools http://explorerschools.nasa.gov

Contact: Cam Martin
Office of External Affairs & Government Liaison
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Edwards, CA 93523-0273

cam.martin@nasa.gov
Phone: (661) 276-3448

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