Melissa Mathews/Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1272/2087
melissa.mathews-1@nasa.gov, beth.dickey-1@nasa.gov

Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-244-1403
brandi.k.dean@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-112

NASA INVITES REPORTERS FOR LUNAR MISSION TESTS AT 'DESERT RATS'

HOUSTON - News media are invited to spend a day with NASA's planetary
rovers, robots and futuristic spacesuits as the agency tests hardware
for missions to the moon. A media day for the event, known as Desert
RATS, will be held Sept. 12 northeast of Flagstaff, Ariz.

Desert RATS (Research and Technology Studies) highlights the
partnership between humans and robots in space exploration. This
year's event is a field test of advanced concepts that may be used
for missions to the moon, which NASA plans to begin by 2020. The
tests will take place near a site used to train for the first moon
landings during the Apollo Program in the 1960s.

Engineers will test concepts for assembly of a lunar outpost, such as
using robots and a lunar rover to perform a site survey and set up
solar arrays and cables for power supply.

Reporters at the Desert RATS media day will be able to:
- watch engineers in prototype space suits simulate astronauts'
activities on the moon;
- interview rover and space suit engineers;
- participate in photo opportunities with the rover known as SCOUT,
time permitting; and
- get the latest information on NASA's plans for lunar exploration.

Interested media should contact Brandi Dean at NASA's Johnson Space
Center in Houston no later than Wednesday, Sept. 5. Access to the
test site is restricted. NASA requires a letter of assignment on
company letterhead for credentials. For more about NASA's plans to
set up an outpost on the moon, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration