RELEASE NO. 97-106
For Release: Aug. 22, 1997

NASA LANGLEY STORY OPPORTUNITIES - AUGUST1997

SAFER AIRPLANE LANDINGS.NASA is developing a system that will keep airplanes moving more safely and with fewer delays at airports day or night, regardless of visibility. Flight tests are being conducted this month at Atlanta's Hartsfield airport. The system is being studied by airline and industry executives, officials of the Federal Aviation Administration and other government agencies for possible use. Interviews, photos and video b-roll are available.

Public Affairs Contact: Keith Henry (757) 864-6121; (757) 647-2133 (cellular in Atlanta)

NASA LANGLEY HELPING MAKE THE SKIES SAFER.NASA Langley has been put in charge of NASA's $500 million Aviation Safety Program. The goal is to reduce the fatal aircraft accident rate by 80 percent in 10 years and 90 percent in 20 years. Flying is the safest of all major modes of transportation, but more technological advances are needed to prevent a rise in accidents if air traffic triples as predicted in the next 20 years, according to Michael Lewis, program manager. Program partners include the Federal Aviation Administration, the aviation industry and the Department of Defense. Interviews, photos, fact sheets and video b-roll are available.

Public Affairs Contact: Michael Finneran (757) 864-6121

BREAKING THINGS AT NASA LANGLEY. A large, full-scale segment of a composite fuel tank structure for the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program will be tested at NASA Langley. The tests will be conducted to validate the design, fabrication and analysis tools needed for the development of the Nation's next-generation reusable launch vehicles. The shell and ring frames of the structure are made from an advanced high-temperature graphite/bismaleimide composite. Interviews, photos, fact sheets and video b-roll are available.

Public Affairs Contact: Ann Gaudreaux (757) 864-8150

X-33 AND X-33 WIND TUNNEL TESTING: The media is invited to view selected X-33 and X-34 wind tunnel testing at NASA Langley. Interviews, photos and video b-roll are available.

Public Affairs Contact: Ann Gaudreaux (757) 864-8150

Coming News:

September:NASA Langley scientists will join with several dozen international colleagues to study the ozone layer over the Arctic. The field mission (using the NASA ER-2, balloons, satellites and atmospheric computer models) will help scientists better understand the important chemistry of the ozone layer in this region, and help them improve their atmospheric chemistry models. Public Affairs Contact: Catherine Watson (757) 864-6122

September: During a space walk, Atlantis/STS-86 astronauts will retrieve the Mir Environmental Effects Payload (MEEP) from the Mir space station. MEEP was attached to Mir in March 1996 (during STS-76) to study the types and effects of space debris in low Earth orbit. Public Affairs Contact: Catherine Watson (757) 864-6122

November:The Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument is scheduled for launch aboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite via a Japanese rocket. CERES will provide global data on the Earth's clouds and energy budget as part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. Public Affairs Contact: Catherine Watson (757) 864-6122

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