Nov 15, 2010

Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100 stephanie schierholz@nasa gov

Amiko Kauderer Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 amiko kauderer-1@nasa gov

RELEASE: 10-300

NASA ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY KICKS OFF GEOGRAPHY TRIVIA FROM SPACE

HOUSTON -- Where over the world is NASA astronaut Scott Kelly? Kelly, who will be living aboard the International Space Station for nearly six months, wants to test your knowledge of the world through a geography trivia game on Twitter

The first person to correctly identify the place depicted in his photos will win an autographed copy of the picture Kelly began his contest at the start of Geography Awareness Week, which continues through Nov 21 He plans to continue the game for the duration of his flight

Kelly launched to the space station along with two Russian cosmonauts, Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka on Oct 8 He is set to return to Earth March 16, 2011 The orbiting outpost and its six crew members circle Earth more than a dozen times each day, traveling more than 200 miles above Earth at 17,500 mph

During Kelly's stay on station, he will have opportunities to see and photograph various locations on Earth In fact, part of his job is to capture a kaleidoscope of geographic spots used for scientific analysis of our planet

"From the cupola, which is much like a bay window in a house, we are able to take pictures for many scientific reasons, but also to share with the public what we are learning about the planet on which we live," Kelly said

Kelly announced the contest Nov 8 by posting the following update from his Twitter account, @StationCDRKelly: "Got game? Be the first to correctly name that inkblot on Earth from space "

He posted the first image in the geography contest on Monday, Nov 15 To play the geography trivia and get other updates from Kelly throughout his mission, follow his Twitter account at:

http://www twitter com/StationCDRKelly

"Expanding our geography knowledge is essential to our economic well-being, our relationships with other nations and the environment," Kelly said "It helps us make sense of our world and allows us to make connections between people and places Space exploration is a global endeavor, and the International Space Station is the result of these connections "

For complete rules of the Geography Trivia from Space contest and more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www nasa gov/station

Find all the ways you can connect and collaborate with NASA at:

http://www nasa gov/connect

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