Science Journal Has Embargoed Details Until 11 a.m. PDT Aug. 4

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – News media are invited to interview NASA Planetary Scientists Robert Haberle, Jeff Moore and Ted L. Roush in addition to viewing a live televised broadcast of a news briefing from NASA Headquarters about a significant new Mars science finding at 11 a.m. PDT, Thursday, Aug. 4, in the main auditorium, N-201, at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.

The new finding is based on observations from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which has been orbiting the Red Planet since 2006. MRO is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

The briefing panelists are:

— Philip Christensen, geophysicist, Arizona State University, Tempe
— Colin Dundas, research geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Ariz.
— Alfred McEwen, planetary geologist, University of Arizona, Tucson
— Michael Meyer, Mars Exploration Program lead scientist, NASA Headquarters
— Lisa Pratt, biogeochemist, Indiana University, Bloomington

Reporters interested in attending the broadcast and asking questions of the briefing panelists from Ames must contact Michael Mewhinney at michael.s.mewhinney@nasa.gov by 8 a.m. PDT, Aug. 4. To reach Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Boulevard towards the main gate. Reporters must obtain visitor badges from the Visitor Registration and Badge Office at the main gate.

The news briefing will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

The event also will be carried live on Ustream, with a live chat box available at: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2