Terri Sindelar

Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

(Phone: 202/453-8400) February 19,
1991

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 713/483-5111)

RELEASE: 91-29

SPACE AGE LEARNING TOOLS AVAILABLE

Although NASA has been sending humans into space for more than 30 years,
spaceflght is still new to middle school children and basic questions are very
much on their minds. With the help of the Astronaut Corps, NASA is producing
space age learning tools to relate space flight and other scientific concepts to
teachers and students at all grade levels and subject areas. NASA today
released the first in this new series of educational video products. This new
video package, Liftoff to Learning: "Space Basics," illustrates orbital science.

"Space Basics" was filmed on location at the NASA Johnson Space Center,
Houston, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and in orbit onboard Space Shuttle
mission STS-41. The 21-minute video combines the answers to basic questions
with exciting space photography and colorful special effects. Accompanying
the tape is an 8-page video resource guide for teachers that provides
background information on rockets and orbits as well as suggestions for hands-
on classroom activities. The guide also includes a vocabulary list, reference
list and details about the crew members.

Observing that space captures students interest in science, math and

technology, NASA is developing a variety of educational materials, including
video tapes, slide sets and educational publications relating to specific Space
Shuttle missions and space flight concepts. For each Shuttle mission a 4-page
teachers guide, "Mission Watch," will be produced describing the mission,
payloads, experiments, and science objectives, and includes suggested
classroom activities and references. At the end of the mission, a 4-page
summary report, "Mission Highlights" will be available to educators.
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These new space age learning products are the result of a team effort
involving NASA Headquarter's Educational Affairs Division, the Astronaut
Corps, Space Shuttle Support Office, program and science people, flight
directors and planners, television production people and public affairs.

Products currently available include:

o Liftoff to Learning: "Space Basics," video and teachers guide (available

March 4)
o "Mission Watch" teacher's guides for STS-41 and 35
o "Mission Highlights" summary for STS-41 and 35
o STS-35 Astro-1 teachers guide and slide set

The video Liftoff to Learning, "Space Basics," can be taped at home or at

school by tuning to Satcom F2R satellite, 72 degrees West longitude,
transponder 13. The video will be transmitted at noon and repeated at 6 p.m.
EST every Tuesday and Thursday in February and will run periodically thoughout
the month of March.

Educators can contact NASA's Teacher Resource Centers for information on

obtaining copies of the "Space Basics" videotape and resource guide (available
March 4), "Mission Watch" and "Mission Highlights." Videotapes and slide sets
are also available by phoning NASA CORE on 216/744-1051 for information.
And with a modem, educators can access NASA Spacelink, a computerized space
education data base on 205/895-0028 for all printed education materials.

- end -

TO: MDS/PRA Group

1615 L Street, N.W. - Suite 100
Washington, D.C. 20036

DATE & TIME: FEBRUARY 19, 1991

ORDERED BY: Theresa Houser

NASA Headquarters/PM
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20546 PHONE: 202/453-8400
PROJECT TITLE: Release No: 91-029

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