NASA Kicks Off Summer of Innovation Program June 10
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA officially kicks off its Summer of Innovation initiative at the
agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday, June 10. Through the
program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating
math- and science-based education programs. NASA's goal is to increase the number of future
scientists, mathematicians and engineers, with an emphasis on broadening participation of low-
income and minority students.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, JPL Director Charles Elachi and astronaut Leland Melvin
will share their personal space exploration experiences with middle school students during a live
NASA Television program starting at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time).
The Summer of Innovation program uses the excitement of NASA missions to keep students
interested in science and math during the "summer slide," a measurable loss of learning skills that
occurs during the school break.
Approximately 250 middle school students and teachers have been invited to the June 10 event
at JPL. They will have the opportunity to speak directly with NASA astronauts, engineers and
scientists and will participate in eight interactive and educational activities, such as launching
paper rockets and building comets from Styrofoam and ribbon. They also will see NASA robotics
in action and meet the next Mars rover, Curiosity. The rover is being assembled at JPL and is
scheduled to launch in 2011.
The students invited to the event at JPL are from these schools:
Better Educated Students for Tomorrow After School Enrichment Program, Los Angeles
Micro-Enterprise Charter Academy, Long Beach, Calif.
Washington Middle School, Pasadena, Calif.
Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles
To view the event and for NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit
Live video streaming of the Summer of Innovation kickoff also will be available on the Web
between 10 a.m. and noon Pacific Time (1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern Time) at
For information about NASA education programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education
information about NASA and agency programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov
The California Institute of Technology manages JPL for NASA.