For Release: Immediately

Release No. 95-071

NASA Langley Story Opportunities - August

GENERAL AVIATION IS GIVEN NEW LIFE. A network of partnerships between government, industries, universities and nonprofit organizations is breathing new life into general aviation. The official signing ceremony of the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) Consortium took place on July 29 in Oshkosh, Wis., home of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) annual Fly-in Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition. AGATE is a multifaceted organization formed by NASA, FAA and the general aviation industry aimed at increasing revenue and creating jobs.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6124

10,000 PAGES ALL ON ONE LITTLE DISC. "Legacy," joint project between the NASA General Aviation Program Office and the NASA Langley Technical Library, is a CD-ROM program for anyone with an interest in the NACA's or NASA's contribution to aviation. It is comprised of the agency's most requested historical and current technical reports on general aviation. Hard copies would cost as much as $3,000, yet the CD-ROM is available for $75 plus $6 for shipping and handling. The disc is available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
NTIS CONTACT: (703) 487-4650
NASA LANGLEY TECHNICAL LIBRARY CONTACT: Susan Adkins (757) 864-2390

NASA/FAA CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO INNOVATE IN 1996. NASA and the FAA are sponsoring a general aviation design competition for aeronautical and engineering students. The competition challenges student teams to develop small aircraft transportation system innovations in various technical areas. Involvement of industry advisors is encouraged, as is participation of women and minorities. Design packages are due May 6, 1996, and the winners will be presented in July 1996. Copies of competition guidelines can be obtained from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.
VIRGINIA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM: (757) 865-0726
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6124

DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED. A student team from three Kansas universities -- the University of Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State -- introduced an operator-friendly design for aircraft, earning them first place in the first annual NASA/FAA National General Aviation Design Competition. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Fla., took second; Mississippi State University took third; and a design group representing the University of Virginia, the Pratt Institute at Brooklyn and Mallen Research Corp. of Charlottesville took an honorable mention.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6124

REMINDER: 'SEAFOOD FARMING' TALK AUG. 1. Michael J. Oesterling, an aquaculture specialist, will speak Aug. 1 at NASA Langley on “Virginia Marine Aquaculture: Research and Product Development.” He will trace the development of Virginia’s marine aquaculture industry and methods of production. Media are invited to the 2 p.m. talk and to a media briefing at 1:15 p.m. at the H.J.E. Reid Conference Center. Will be repeated at Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC), Hampton, at 7:30 p.m.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122/3

AERONAUTICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. James A. Blackwell, the president of the Aeronautics Sector of Lockheed Martin, will share his views of the future of aeronautics with NASA Langley employees at 2 p.m., August 15 in the H.J.E. Reid Conference Center. A media briefing will be held in the Wythe Room at 1:15 p.m. Blackwell will discuss the effects of international competition on the aerospace industry and the importance of a strong partnership between government and industry to maintain U.S. technological leadership. Interviews available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122

MICROGRAVITY EFFECTS ON SPACE STRUCTURES. The Joint Dynamics Experiment JDX, a cooperative effort between NASA Langley and Utah State University, will be flown aboard Endeavour (STS-69) in early August. The experiment is designed to study how well joints on space structures dissipate vibrations. The data is important for building the International Space Station. Interviews, photos available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122

STUDYING THE EFFECTS OF BIOMASS BURNING. Scientists from NASA Langley will spend six weeks in central Brazil studying the atmospheric effects of biomass burning. The field experiment, which begins Aug. 16, will involve coordinated aircraft, surface and satellite measurements of smoke characteristics and the interaction of the smoke with clouds. More than 80 researchers from four NASA centers, two U.S. agencies, five U.S. universities, 12 Brazilian agencies and six Brazilian universities will participate. The experiment, called SCAR-B (Smoke, Clouds, and Radiation - Brazil), is managed by NASA Langley. Interviews, photos available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122

RESOURCE PHOTOGRAPHS:

REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES. Color 8 x10 photos are available of two reusable launch vehicle (RLV) models being tested in the 31-Inch Mach 10 Hypersonic Wind Tunnel at NASA Langley. The RLV program calls for development of one or more launch vehicles that could deliver payloads and people to space, fly back to Earth, and be used again. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is host center for the industry-led RLV effort.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Michael Finneran (757) 864-8150

LOOKING AHEAD:

NASA LANGLEY GOES TO THE FAIR. Look for NASA Langley's exhibit at the Virginia State Fair, Richmond, from Sept. 21 to Oct. 1.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6124

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