From: ken.edgett@asu.edu (Ken Edgett)
Subject: Mars celebrations across USA
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 12:54:50 -0700 (MST)
Dear Mars Educators, The National Space Society has set up a special "Mars Madness" web site to celebrate the Mars Pathfinder landing. The coolest thing about the site is that it lists all of the BIG public events that are happening on and around July 4th. For example, they list events in Chicago, Florida, and Washington DC. You don't *have* to be in Pasadena, CA, to be a part of the fun. This site is worth taking a look. Take care, Ken Edgett Arizona Mars K-12 Education Program -------------------------------------------- NEWS RELEASE Contact: Karen Rugg NSS Director of Communications 202-543-1900 x77 communications.director@nss.org NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY ADDS NEW WEBSITE AND AMERICA ON-LINE LIVE EVENTS TO JULY'S MARS LANDING EXCITEMENT Website Offers Mars Party Tips and National Mars Events / Mars Author and Mars Rover Manager Take Questions on AOL (Washington, DC) -- June 23 -- The National Space Society (NSS) unveiled its latest website today at <http://www.nss.org/mars>. The site, "Mars Madness," was created to help NSS members and the general public celebrate the human aspect of the planned July 4 landing of NASA's Mars Pathfinder and the arrival of the first images from the Mars surface in over 20 years. The NSS will also host two, system-wide America Online live events in July featuring Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning Mars author, and Donna Shirley, manager of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "This is the first planetary mission when, through the use of television and on-line coverage, individuals can almost simultaneously experience at home what NASA's project managers are experiencing," said Robert Pearlman, NSS On-line Manager and designer of the "Madness" site. "Mars Madness" website features a Mars Party Planner with ideas on how individuals or groups can host a Mars celebration, including suggestions for event locations, "red" food and drinks, party activities, and invitation gimmicks. The Event Calendar lists Mars celebrations or events being held by NSS and its chapters during the month of July. Completing the site are a reference journal and image archive which will provide the latest facts and images from the Mars surface as the mission progresses. On America Online, NSS hosts two Mars-related live events. On Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 pm EDT, Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning author of "Red Mars," "Green Mars" and "Blue Mars," will entertain questions on his view of the future of Mars exploration. On Monday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. EDT, Ms. Donna Shirley, manager of the Mars Exploration Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will chat with on-line visitors about the Martian images and the Mars Pathfinder mission. Ms. Shirley will also be the primary technical advisor for CNN from July 4 - 6. For more information on these two guests and how to join the audience, America Online subscribers can go to keyword "space." The National Space Society is an independent, nonprofit space advocacy organization with headquarters in Washington, DC. Its 25,000 members and 95 chapters worldwide actively promote the creation of a spacefaring civilization. For more information, visit the NSS website at http://www.nss.org/