NASA, in collaboration with Central American scientists,
is about to embark upon an exciting adventure that harnesses
advanced technology to improve our understanding of biological
and cultural resources and their sustainable development.
Reporters are invited to attend a media day on Wednesday, March
3, beginning at 1 p.m. EST (noon local time) at the Costa Rica
National Hangar for Airborne Research, at the Juan Santamaria
International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, to learn about
NASA’s Central America Airborne Campaign and to hear remarks
from NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe.
The mission, using NASA’s Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar
(AirSAR) aboard a NASA DC-8 aircraft, combines conservation
biology, ecology, global change and archaeology objectives.
Members of the press will be briefed on the mission and be
given the opportunity to speak for a short time with
Administrator O’Keefe, AirSAR researchers and aircraft
personnel. Photo opportunities and tours of the DC-8 will be
available at that time.
Previous successes of AirSAR missions, such as the December
1996 discovery of a previously unknown temple at Angkor in
Cambodia, indicate that the instrument may be effective at
discovering new archaeological sites in other environments.
Press wishing to attend the media day must provide the
following information to NASA Headquarters Public Affairs no
later than 4 p.m. EST Friday, February 27, 2004:
Full Name
Affiliation
Passport Number
Nationality
All information must be sent via fax or email to:
NASA AirSAR CAMPAIGN PUBLIC AFFAIRS
elvia.thompson@nasa.gov
fax: 202/358-3432
On Wednesday, March 3, at noon local time, members of the press
should assemble outside Base-Dos of the Juan Santamaria
International Airport in San Jose for escort into the facility.
For security purposes, those who do not pre-register by 4 p.m.
February 27 will not be allowed into National Hangar for
Airborne Research facility.
Background material on the AirSAR campaign can be found on the
Internet at:
