NASA will host an industry and academia day Feb. 14 beginning at 9:30 a.m. CST at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to share information on an upcoming research opportunity relating to the Space Launch System’s (SLS) advanced development.

Marshall is leading the design and development of the SLS on behalf of the agency. The new heavy-lift launch vehicle will expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and enable new missions of exploration across the solar system.

The 130-metric-ton, evolved SLS vehicle will require advanced developments in the areas of concept development, propulsion, structures, materials, manufacturing and avionics, and software. These efforts will focus on affordability and sustainability of the SLS as it evolves from the 70-metric-ton vehicle to the 130-metric-ton vehicle.

Speakers will include Todd May, SLS program manager at Marshall; Mindy Nedermeyer, NASA Research Announcement chair; and Monica Heidelberg, SLS advance development NASA Research Announcement contracting officer.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event held in Morris Auditorium in Marshall’s building 4200. A media availability will be held at approx. 9:45 a.m.

Journalists interested in attending should contact Jennifer Stanfield in Marshall’s Public and Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. CST, Monday, Feb. 13. To ensure adequate security processing time on the day of the event, media should report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9 by 8:30 a.m., with two photo IDs, vehicle registration and proof of car insurance. Visitor parking is available in front of Building 4200 on the south side.

For information about NASA’s Space Launch System, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/sls