MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. — News media are invited to attend a signing ceremony to commemorate a new collaborative relationship between NASA’s Ames Research Center and the State of Alaska. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. AST on Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, at the Alaska Aerospace Corporations Kodiak Launch Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. After the agreement is signed, news media will have an opportunity to ask questions and interview signatories.

NASA and Alaska have agreed to collaborate on specific activities of mutual interest, including space exploration, advanced aviation, science research and education initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The first annex under the new agreement provides for small satellite research and development with the Alaska Aerospace Corp., Anchorage, Alaska, to evaluate existing ground tracking stations at the Kodiak Launch Complex, Kodiak, Alaska, for potential use in support of NASA’s small satellite operations. The ground stations could also be used to engage Alaska middle school through university students in tracking NASA spacecraft. The agreement lasts three years and has two year-long options.

News media interested in attending must contact Pat Johnston at 907-561-3338 or pat.johnston@akaerospace.com to make arrangements.

WHAT: Signing of an Umbrella Space Act Agreement for a non-reimbursable collaboration between Ames and the State of Alaska.

WHEN: 2 p.m. AST, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010.

WHERE: Conference Room 118 at the Alaska Aerospace Corp.s Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC) on Kodiak Island, Alaska. The spaceport is approximately 44 road miles south of Kodiak, Alaska at Narrow Cape on Kodiak Island.

WHO: Signing ceremony participants, include:

– S. Pete Worden, director, NASA’s Ames Research Center

– Curtis Thayer, deputy commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development

– Dale Nash, chief executive officer, Alaska Aerospace Corp., Anchorage, Alaska

– Tom Case, president and chief operating officer, Alaska Aerospace Corp.

For more information about NASA’s Ames Research Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ames

For more information about the State of Alaska, visit: http://alaska.gov

For more information about Alaska Aerospace Corp., and the Kodiak Launch Complex, visit: http://akaerospace.com/