May 1, 2014
NASA Invites Media to Morpheus Project Update
News media representatives are invited to view NASA's Morpheus lander outfitted with its new suite of automated landing and hazard avoidance technology or ALHAT sensors at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday, May 21. Morpheus is a prototype lander engineers can use to integrate technologies for future spacecraft that could land on a variety of destinations in our solar system. The project integrates NASA’s Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) with an engine that runs on liquid oxygen and methane, or “green” propellants, into a fully operational lander that could deliver cargo to asteroids and other planetary surfaces. During the event, members of the media will tour the Morpheus hangar and the ALHAT hazard field designed to provide the lander with the type of terrain it may encounter during a touchdown at its destination, including rocks and craters. NASA officials from the Morpheus and ALHAT project offices based at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, along with Kennedy project personnel, will be available for interviews. Media should arrive at Kennedy’s Press Site by 9 a.m. for transportation to the event. International media must apply for credentials by 4 p.m. Thursday, May 8. U.S. media without Kennedy accreditation must apply by 4 p.m. Friday, May 16. Two forms of government-issued identification are required to receive a badge, one with a photograph such as a driver’s license or passport. Badges will be available for pick up at the Kennedy Badging Office, located on State Road 405 east of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Hours for the Kennedy Badging Office are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Journalists needing accreditation should apply online at: To attend the event, news media representatives must be dressed in full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet, and shirts with sleeves. For more information about Project Morpheus and videos of past tests, visit: http://morpheuslander.jsc.nasa.gov For more information about NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit: -end- Tracy Young NASA Kennedy Space Center news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to ksc-request@newsletters.nasa.gov. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail message with the subject line unsubscribe to ksc-request@newsletters.nasa.gov. |
