NASA centers across the country are opening their doors Monday, Feb. 2 to media and selected social media for “State of NASA” events, unique opportunities for a behind-the-scenes look at the agency’s work on its journey to Mars. NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, will be hosting an event from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PST.

Each center will connect via NASA Television with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at 10:30 a.m. PST at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Bolden will address the agency’s scientific and technological achievements and the exciting work ahead as we push farther into the solar system and lead the world in a new era of exploration. The briefing will air live on NASA TV and the agency’s website.

Additionally, Ames will host a preview of an exciting imaging mission later in the month, then an autonomy and robotics showcase, featuring experts and hardware at Ames’ Roverscape. The showcase will highlight rovers, satellites and unmanned aerial systems (“drones”). Media will interact one-on-one with project researchers and their cutting-edge technologies developed and under development, as NASA studies our changing Earth and the infinite universe, and progresses toward the next generation of air travel.

Media must apply for credentials to attend the event at Ames by 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. Media for this event must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and should register for the event by contacting Jessica Culler at jessica.culler@nasa.gov or 650-604-4789.

Following the showcase, at 1 p.m. Monday, agency Chief Financial Officer David Radzanowski will brief media on NASA’s 2016 budget proposal in a teleconference with streamed visuals. To participate in this briefing remotely, media need to contact Karen Northon in the NASA Headquarters newsroom at 202-358-1540 or karen.northon@nasa.gov no later than 3 p.m. 

Audio and visuals from the media teleconference will be streamed live on NASA’s website and on Ustream at: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

Media and social media attending Ames’ event may watch a stream of the visuals on site. This briefing will be followed by a local briefing on Ames elements of the budget proposal with center leadership and Ames Chief Financial Officer Paul Agnew.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

The NASA budget and supporting information will be available online Monday morning, at: http://www.nasa.gov/budget