Jan. 26, 2012 Sarah Ramsey Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1694 sarah.ramsey@xxxxxxxx MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-017 NASA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR VISITS AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN AN AMERICAN ECONOMY BUILT TO LAST WASHINGTON -- NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver will visit Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, Va., on Jan. 27 to highlight how government can partner with small business to help create the jobs of the future through investment in science and technology. NASA has partnered with Aurora on a number of projects involving innovative future aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle technology, and the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) satellite test bed. SPHERES provides an opportunity for high school students to design research for the International Space Station. Garver's visit comes three days after President Obama delivered his State of the Union speech, in which he talked about creating an American economy that is built to last. Garver and Aurora CEO John Langford will be available to speak with news media representatives during a tour of the Aurora facility beginning at 11:20 a.m. EST. There also will be a photo opportunity as Garver participates in a ground-based demonstration of the Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft. Media representatives wanting to attend the event must call Sarah Ramsey at 202-358-1694 or email her at sarah.ramsey@xxxxxxxx by 10:30 a.m. Friday morning to be badged into the facility. Journalist planning to attend must be U.S. citizens. Founded in 1989, Aurora Flight Sciences designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for both scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered is in Manassas, Va., with production plants in Bridgeport, W.V., and Columbus, Miss., and a Research and Development Center based at MIT in Cambridge, Mass. For more information about Aurora Flight Sciences, visit: http://www.aurora.aero For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.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
