Official Nasa Communication 05-03

Jan. 25, 2005 Dryden Flight Research Center P.O. Box 273 Edwards, California 93523 Phone 661/276-3449 FAX 661/276-3566 Alan Brown NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Phone: 661/276-2665 [email protected] RELEASE: 05-03 NASA EXPLORER SCHOOL TEACHERS VISIT DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER Teachers from Edwards Middle School, a NASA Explorer School at Edwards Air Force Base, recently toured NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The middle school teachers were given an up-close-and-personal planeside briefing on the Pathfinder-Plus solar aircraft, a demonstration of life support equipment for astronauts and pilots of high-altitude aircraft and received lesson plans that address life science and solar aircraft technology. Dryden pre-college officer Michelle Davis and NASA Explorer Schools coordinator Linda Tomczuk arranged the professional-development tour as part of an expansion of the NASA Explorer School program to involve all the teachers at the school. For more information about NASA's Explorer Schools, log on to: http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.

Image Right: Edwards Middle School teachers (clockwise from lower left) Terri Hyatte, Jennie Sparks, Barry Conforti, Chris Richards and Jay Blank examine a high-altitude pressure suit during their tour of NASA Dryden. NASA Dryden photo ED04-0014-2 by Tom Tschida

PHOTO EDITORS: Photos to support this photo release are available on-line at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/newsphotos/edwards_teachers_tour.html.

Image Right: With a solar cell-covered wing section in the foreground, NASA Dryden solar aircraft project manager John Del Frate outlines features of the Pathfinder-Plus solar-electric flying wing to Edwards Middle School teachers during their recent visit to NASA Dryden. NASA Dryden photo ED04-0014-005 by Tom Tschida -end-