NASA Daily News Summary
For Release: Nov. 18, 1998
Media Advisory 98-78

TODAY'S SUMMARY:


* Miniaturized Transmitter to be Used in Efforts to Save 
Babies
* NASA Video File for Nov. 18, 1998

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MINIATURIZED TRANSMITTER TO BE USED IN EFFORTS TO SAVE BABIES

     Early next year, a NASA-developed "pill transmitter" is 
expected to begin monitoring mothers and their babies 
following corrective fetal surgery.  The "pill" will monitor 
body temperature, pressure and other vital signs in the womb, 
radioing this critical information to physicians.  NASA's 
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, is developing the 
pill, which is about one-third-of-an-inch across and one-and-
one-third-inches long, in cooperation with the Fetal 
Treatment Center at the University of California, San 
Francisco.  Later, an even smaller pill will be developed 
that can be swallowed by astronauts so that NASA can track 
their vital signs during space travel.

Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Renee Juhans 
202/358-1712.

Contact at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA:  
John Bluck:  650/604-5026.

Contact at University of California, San Francisco, News 
Services:  Janet Basu  415/476-2557.

Full text available at: 
ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1998/98-208.txt

^^^^^

If additional news releases are issued later today, summaries 
and Internet URLs will be e-mailed to this list.

Index of NASA News Releases:
http://www.nasa.gov/releases/1998/index.html

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VIDEO FILE FOR NOVEMBER 18, 1998

ITEM 1:  LEONID METEOR STORM FOOTAGE
    Footage shows:  the Leonid Meteor Storm as seen from 
Okinawa, Japan, on Nov. 17, 1998; the interior of the Fista 
aircraft and NASA scientists monitoring the storm; and the 
view of the meteor storm from a window in one of the 
aircraft.

Contact at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA:  
Kathleen Burton 650/604-9000.
 
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Don Savage 
202/358-1727.

ITEM 2:  NASA STUDYING LEONID METEOR STORM (replay)

Contact at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA:  
Kathleen Burton 650/604-9000.
 
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Don Savage 
202/358-1727.

ITEM 3:  PILL TRANSMITTER TO AID FETAL MONITORING

    Early next year, a NASA developed "pill-sized 
transmitter" is expected to begin monitoring mothers and 
their babies following corrective fetal surgery.  The "pill" 
will monitor body temperature, pressure and other vital signs 
in the womb, radioing this critical information to 
physicians. 

Contact at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA:  
John Bluck 650-604-5026.

Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Renee Juhans 
202/358-1712.

^^^^^

The NASA Video File normally airs at noon, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 
p.m. and midnight Eastern time.  NASA Television is available 
on GE-2, transponder 9C at 85 degrees West longitude, with 
vertical  polarization.  Frequency is on 3880.0 megahertz, 
with audio on 6.8 megahertz.

Ray Castillo
NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  202/358-4555.

The most recent NASA Video File Advisory can be found at:
ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/tv-advisory/nasa-tv.txt

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http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/award.html

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END OF DAILY NEWS SUMMARY