Sept 6, 2012

Stephanie Covey Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 stephanie a covey@nasa gov

RELEASE: 49-12

KENNEDY HOSTS FIRST INNOVATION EXPO FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPUR NEW NASA IDEAS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) strives to be innovative in all of its programs, projects and practices, and that ingenuity comes from the center's greatest asset, its workforce As part of a new initiative to help foster worker innovation and creativity, Kennedy on Thursday hosted its first Innovation Expo, which is designed to highlight employee innovations in the workplace that help shape the future of the center and the agency

The expo provided an opportunity for employees to hear from outside speakers and to pitch their own ideas of ways to improve Kennedy

"Our NASA history demonstrates the greatness of American innovation, and KSC has always played a key role in that history," Kennedy Director Bob Cabana said "Innovation is a part of our jobs, and now more than ever, we need to collaborate and innovate in new and exciting ways to fulfill our goal of transforming KSC into a vibrant, multiuser spaceport "

Throughout the day, employees toured labs and facilities across the center that normally are not open to the general workforce In addition, they heard from innovative and inspirational speakers from companies such as Disney, Sierra Nevada Corp , and the Boy Scouts of America

The expo also featured Kennedy Kick-Start, a competition for employees to receive as much as $5,000 for equipment needed to implement their ideas at the center The selected innovators will be announced Friday, Sept 7

Kennedy works to spur innovation on a daily basis By retrofitting its world-class ground systems and facilities for both government and commercial users, and infusing innovative ideas into ongoing and forward-looking programs such as Launch Services, International Space Station, Commercial Crew, Orion and Space Launch Systems, the center helps NASA reach America's space exploration goals

For more information about NASA Kennedy Space Center's programs and projects, visit:

http://www nasa gov/kennedy

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