November 01, 2007 Katherine K. Martin Media Relations Office 216-433-2406 katherine.martin@grc.nasa.gov MEDIA ADVISORY: 07-051 NASA GLENN HOSTS YOUNG ASTRONAUTS FOR ANNUAL CHALLENGE Cleveland - For the 15th straight year, NASA's Glenn Research Center will host over 300 students from 24 local schools and youth organizations for Young Astronaut Day, a Saturday filled with hands-on activities and a visit with a NASA astronaut. Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 3, in the Developmental Engineering Building Auditorium, Glenn Deputy Director Ray Lugo will welcome the students. Astronaut Mario Runco will serve as guest speaker and start the students on their way toward a day filled with excitement in a number of engineering and scientific challenges. Guidelines, instructions and a summary of the day's activities will then be given by organizers of the event, most of whom are NASA scientists and engineers. Pilots (6th grade and younger) will meet in Glenn's Developmental Engineering Building Cafeteria, while Commanders (7th grade and older) will convene at the same time in the Main Cafeteria for the competition portion of the event. The students, in grades K-12, have fun competing in events designed to help stimulate an interest in aeronautics, space science and engineering. Challenges this year include Space Spud, where competing student teams use the same materials to design different protective suits for the Space Spud from an onslaught of small meteorites from an impactor; and the InSpace Repair Challenge, where each team experiences how difficult it is to perform simple tasks when working in space. Astronaut Runco began his flight career as an astronaut candidate in 1987 and is a veteran of three space shuttle flights, having logged over 551 hours in space, including a 4.5-hour spacewalk. Runco was part of the STS-54 crew that demonstrated how everyday toys behave in space, in what has since become a popular children's education video, "Physics of Toys." He subsequently made several appearances on the children's television show Sesame Street. This year's event is sponsored by Glenn and the Northern Ohio section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Media representatives interested in covering the activities should call Lori Rachul at 216-433-8806 or 216-509-1071 in order to be cleared through security. A list of communities with schools and organizations participating follows: Ashland Ashland Elementary School Bay Village Bay Village Middle School Berea Ford Middle School St. Adelbert School Brecksville Girl Scout Troop 1578 South Suburban Montessori School Bryan St. Patrick's School Burton Berkshire Junior and Senior High School Shore Explorers Cleveland Birchwood School John Glenn Elementary School Martin Luther King Junior High Ledgemont Young Astronauts Lorain County Civil Air Patrol Montpelier Superior Middle School North Canton Brownie Troop 516 Oberlin Young Explorers Parma Parma Heights Christian Academy Parma High School Warrior Astronauts Rocky River Magnificat High School Sheffield Sheffield Middle School Shaker Heights University School Westerville Edison Academy -end-