Nov 21, 2011

David E Steitz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1730 david steitz@nasa gov

Warren Betts/Brian Boothe WBC/ZoomWerks 626-836-2080; 626-836-3040 warren@zoomwerks com / brian@zoomwerks com

RELEASE: 11-393

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL TO AIR SPECIAL "ARTHUR CHRISTMAS" SEGMENT FEATURING NASA SPINOFF TECHNOLOGY

WASHINGTON -- Have you ever been curious about where all the technology in your school, home, car, computer, or office comes from? You might be surprised that a great percentage of the technology we rely on each day was developed or enhanced by NASA We all know about NASA's outstanding accomplishments in space, but few of us know just how much the space agency has accomplished right here at home Except for Arthur Arthur Christmas, that is

This year in the holiday release of "Arthur Christmas," Santa's North Pole has turned to high technology to run a precise operation in getting billions of gifts delivered around the world Run by thousands of computer-savvy elves, the North Pole uses NASA-style technology to track the delivery of gifts around the Earth as they are being delivered by Santa's high speed S-1 The S-1 is a giant spacecraft in the shape of a sleigh

Sony Pictures Animation team created a special one-minute segment from the film to help bring attention to the many high tech gadgets and everyday items that come from NASA technology The educational segment will premiere on the Smithsonian Channel during primetime on Tuesday, Nov 22 It also can be downloaded for use by educators and media at:

http://www nasa gov/topics/technology/features/arthur_christmas html

"This was an exciting opportunity for us to have real examples of space technology being used right here on Earth featured in a family holiday film," said Daniel Lockney, NASA's technology transfer program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington "NASA is constantly creating innovative technologies to enable our current and future missions Many of these technologies get further developed and turned into consumer products by American industries, creating jobs, fueling the economy, and saving and improving lives around the planet "

NASA's technology transfer program provides corporations and innovators with opportunities to bring technology initially developed for space to consumers around the world Hundreds of examples of NASA spinoff technologies and innovations that have become viable commercial products and are now used in our everyday lives can be found at NASA's Spinoff website:

http://spinoff nasa gov

Sony Pictures Animation is the creator of "Arthur Christmas," directed by Sarah Smith The film is a 3D holiday feature animation, starring the voices of James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton Sony Pictures Animation is one of the leading animation companies in the industry, producing exciting and advanced animated family entertainment

Arthur Christmas opens Nov 23

For more information about the Smithsonian Network, visit:

http://www smithsonianchannel com

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www nasa gov

-end-

To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices nasa gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@mediaservices nasa gov

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list: [list_name]

using the following email: example@example.com

You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:

https://aus-city com/cgi-bin/dada/mail cgi/u/NASA_REPORTS/example/example com/

If the above URL is inoperable, make sure that you have copied the entire address Some mail readers will wrap a long URL and thus break this automatic unsubscribe mechanism

You may also change your subscription by visiting this list's main screen:

<[program_url]/list/[list]>

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at:

<mailto:[list_owner_email]>

The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:

[physical_address]