Jan. 28, 2009

Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761
sonja.r.alexander{at}nasa.gov

Kathy Barnstorff
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-9886/344-8511
kathy.barnstorff{at}nasa.gov

Audrey Staples
National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va.
757-325-6981
audrey.staples{at}nianet.org

RELEASE: 09-019

AWARD-WINNING NASA TV SHOW LAUNCHES SECOND SEASON

HAMPTON, Va. -- NASA 360, a half-hour television program that
explores
NASA's contributions to everyday life, is celebrating its one-year
anniversary. NASA produces the program in partnership with the
National Institute of Aerospace, or NIA, in Hampton, Va. It is part
of the NASA eClips project that provides free NASA educational video
content via the Internet.

"The show has really taken off," said Michael Finneran, NASA 360
executive producer at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
"We focus on how technologies developed by or for NASA are being used
in everything from space exploration to consumer products. And we do
it in an entertaining way."

"The National Institute of Aerospace is excited to be working with
NASA on this program," said Robert Lindberg, NIA president and
executive director.

NASA 360 has a fast-paced feel and visual content designed to appeal
to a wide variety of audiences. It is hosted by Johnny Alonso and
Jennifer Pulley. Alonso has performed in movies and on television,
including in "Dawson's Creek" and "One Tree Hill." Pulley has
appeared in "NASA Connect" and many television commercials.

The NASA 360 team just finished its sixth show. The crew traveled to
a
remote location in Moses Lake, Wash., to see how NASA is testing new
rovers that may go to the moon in the future. Previous shows have
highlighted global warming research, solar technologies, NASA
contributions to car racing, and how remote sensing and other
innovations are helping uncover history. Other episodes have looked
at Mars exploration, new spacesuit research and NASA contributions to
cordless power tool development and snow ski designs.

Future programs will take viewers to Hawaii, where NASA researchers
test gear in rocky terrain similar to the moon's polar region. Other
segments will feature astronaut training and more NASA contributions
to the world of sports.

"NASA 360 can be seen online at NASA's Web site, on YouTube, MySpace
and Facebook. Viewers also can subscribe to the video podcast through
iTunes. We're using the Internet to try to reach younger audiences to
excite them about NASA and its work," said co-producer Mike Bibbo of
NIA.

"And for those people who may not spend as much time on the web, NASA
360 also can be seen on 900 public broadcasting, cable and commercial
stations across the country and 1,200 Voice of America outlets all
over the world," co-producer Kevin Krigsvold of NIA added. "It also
airs on NASA TV available by satellite or on some cable systems."

The program has won numerous awards, including two Communicator
Awards
for overall program and editing, two Omni Awards for overall program
and editing, two Davey Awards for overall program and editing, two
Marcom Awards and two Ava Awards.

To find NASA 360, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasa360

and

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For additional information about NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

For additional information about the National Institute of Aerospace,
visit:

http://www.nianet.org

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