NASA Featured Prominently at USA Science and Engineering Festival April 25-27

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Apr 22, 2014, 03:19 ET

WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Media are invited to join a host of NASA scientists, engineers and managers at the USA Science and Engineering Festival, April 25-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW, Washington.

At 8 a.m. EDT on Friday, April 25, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will join Marillyn Hewson, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin, NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, and members of the agency's Orion Program to announce the winning high school team in the Exploration Design Challenge. The winning team's radiation shield design will fly on the Orion spacecraft's first flight test, which is targeted for December.

At 2 p.m., Friday, a Google+ Hangout featuring a "Mars Virtual Field Trip" will be hosted by NASA and the U.S. Department of State in partnership with Google via NASA's Distant Learning Network (DLN). The collaborative, science based program will engage students from the U.S., Argentina and Nicaragua to help them better understand the need for strong skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The "NASA Stage" at the festival will feature three full days of NASA scientists and engineers presenting fast-paced "Ted" style talks. Hands-on presentations at the festival include White House Chef Bill Yosses and Kepler Chief Scientist Steve Howell discussing "Food on Other Planets," and astronaut Brian Duffy providing children a chance talk about living in space during "Ask an Astronaut" presentations. Under the theme, "Reaching New Heights," NASA exhibits will feature more than 30 hands-on demonstrations and engaging activities to inspire students.

For a complete list of NASA activities and speakers during the festival, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/1rfKbSr

To watch NASA's Virtual Mars Field Trip Google+ Hangout, visit:

https://plus.google.com/events/clh5chhn9eqbl0cv4rfm0eqk788

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SOURCE NASA