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Victoria Steiner	       			March 12, 2003
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Phone: 650/604-0176 or 650/604-9000
E-mail: Victoria.L.Steiner{at}nasa.gov

RELEASE: 03-15AR
NASA AMES RESEARCH CENTER RESUMES PUBLIC TOUR PROGRAM

NASA Ames Research Center today announced the resumption of its 
popular tour program that allows the general public to visit one of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's most historic and 
cutting-edge research centers.

Two-hour tours will be offered five times per week, Monday through 
Friday, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. PST. Tours will begin with an overview 
of the center's key technologies and research, and will depart from 
the Visitor Center at NASA Ames.

"We are pleased to open our doors to area visitors and members of 
neighboring communities," said NASA Ames Acting Deputy Director Dr. 
Steven Zornetzer. "We are especially delighted that our guests will 
have the opportunity to learn about the amazing research going on both 
at Ames and throughout NASA."

The new tour will take visitors on a walking visit to several of NASA 
Ames' unique facilities. Possible tour stops include the NASA Advanced 
Supercomputing facility, featuring some of the world's fastest 
supercomputers, and the Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility, which 
contains two full-size cockpit flight simulators. Other possible sites 
to be visited include the Vertical Motion Simulator, used by NASA 
astronauts and pilots to practice simulated take-offs and landings; a 
mock-up of the International Space Station; the National Full-Scale 
Aerodynamics Complex, which contains the world's largest wind tunnel; 
and the 20-G centrifuge.

"I am truly gratified that we are able to offer public tours again," 
said Sheila Johnson, NASA Ames' community relations coordinator. 
"Previously, we averaged 10,000 visitors a year. Clearly, the public 
wants to visit NASA Ames and is interested in learning about the 
technologies that we develop for the future," she added.         

"Seeing people's interest in space flight and NASA, inspiring the 
younger generations and seeing the enthusiasm that they display is one 
of the most gratifying things for me," said new tour program 
coordinator Michael Reeves, who has worked in the center's wind 
tunnels for the last 18 years.   

To book a tour, call 650/604-6274. A maximum of 20 people are 
permitted on each tour.

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