May 7, 2008 Sonja Alexander Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1761 sonja.r.alexander@xxxxxxxx RELEASE: 08-113 NASA ROLLS OUT NEW ARTIFACT LOAN PROGRAM WITH SPACE SHUTTLE TIRES WASHINGTON -- With the help of the space shuttle program, NASA kicks off a new artifact loan program for museums, planetariums, and other organizations. NASA's new Artifact Loan Opportunities Program will help organizations borrow NASA artifacts for education and outreach purposes. The first artifacts available are main landing gear tires from space shuttles. The space shuttle tires, including some flown on missions, are available to proposing organizations that NASA determines best meet the agency's education and public outreach goals. This new program gives organizations that are not traditionally associated with the agency the chance to have access to NASA artifacts. The shuttle tires and future available artifacts represent NASA's many decades of exploration and discovery. Organizations interested in proposing uses for loaned shuttle tires should be external to NASA. Organizations may include, but are not limited to, museums, schools, and civic groups. The long-term loan of these tires may be used to educate, inspire or inform the public about NASA's scientific and technological achievements through art, sculpture, furniture, building structures, exhibits or other innovative uses of the artifacts. The deadline for proposals on this initial opportunity is June 11, 2008. For information about artifact loan opportunity, visit: http://artifacts.nasa.gov -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx