Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761
sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov

Jenna Maddix
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-244-0185
jenna.c.mills@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-150

SPACE STATION INVADED BY STUDENTS FROM OUTER SPACE BASE

HOUSTON -- Arizona Kids and teens are set to blast their local
libraries into orbit after completing Outer Space Base, a library
series of space science programs in Tucson. Nine- to
thirteen-year-olds will participate in a live educational downlink
with Expedition 17 astronaut Greg Chamitoff aboard the International
Space Station on Friday, Aug. 15, from 1:10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. CDT.

The Pima County Public Library is the first public library system to
host a space station downlink. The downlink also will be a first for
the State of Arizona.

Outer Space Base programs are the product of a partnership between the
library, NASA, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the Mars
Education Program at Arizona State University, in Phoenix.

Program participants engaged in a week-long series of hands-on
programs, focusing on human spaceflight and NASA's exploration plans,
in preparation for the event. Outer Space Base is celebrating the
50th anniversary of NASA by promoting science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM) skills among kids and teens.

NASA's education downlinks support the agency's efforts to encourage
students to study and possibly pursue careers in STEM fields. These
events are facilitated by NASA's Teaching From Space Office and use
the unique experience of human space flight to promote and enhance
STEM education.

The downlink will air live on NASA Television and be streamed on the
NASA Web site at:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv