QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO VISIT NASA’S GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
WASHINGTON, DC(rushprnews) May 4th, 2007 – Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh will visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., on Tuesday, May 8. The tour of Goddard is occurring near the end of the queen’s visit to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia.
Goddard is home to the largest organization of scientists and
engineers in the United States dedicated to learning and sharing
knowledge of the Earth, sun, solar system and universe. The visit
gives the royal couple the opportunity to meet 21st century explorers
of new worlds. The visit is indicative of the long history of
collaboration with the United Kingdom, including the Hubble Space
Telescope and Solar Dynamics Observatory.
“NASA is honored to be one of the U.S. organizations hosting a visit
by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth,” said NASA Administrator Michael
Griffin. “The United States and the United Kingdom have a strong
partnership in space, from British-born mission astronauts who serve
in NASA’s astronaut corps to the numerous joint scientific and
research efforts under way.”
This visit follows a signing on April 19 of a statement of intent
between NASA and the British National Space Centre, London, that
confirmed a mutual desire for discussions on specific areas of
potential collaboration involving lunar science and exploration.
The visit to Goddard will include a presentation and reception with
employees, a demonstration of the new Science on a Sphere
visualization system, and a tree planting ceremony at the Goddard
visitor center. The queen will have an opportunity to speak with the
current crew aboard the International Space Station. The duke will
tour facilities used to build and evaluate satellites and equipment
being prepared for space flight.
Parts of the visit will be carried live on NASA TV or included in NASA
video file feeds that day. All media access to the event is being
coordinated through the British Embassy in Washington. News
representatives interested in covering the queen’s visit to Goddard
should contact embassy Deputy Press Secretary Steve Atkins by calling
202-588-6593, or via e-mail at ppa.washington@fco.gov.uk.
David Mould
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1400
Mark Hess/Ed Campion
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-8955
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