Beth Schmid
Headquarters, Washington, DC                      March 8, 1999
(Phone:  202/358-1760)

Carolyn Jones
American University, Washington, DC
(Phone:  202/885-5935)

RELEASE:  99-36

"ROCKET BOY" HOMER HICKAM HIGHLIGHTS MARCH 24 SYMPOSIUM

     The public is invited to hear renowned panelists -- including 
Homer Hickam, the subject of the new movie, "October Sky," -- 
debating humanity's destiny in the cosmos, and see a controversial 
meteorite containing evidence of possible life on Mars at the 
"Space Exploration at the Millennium" symposium.  The symposium 
will take place at American University's Bender Arena in 
Washington, DC, Wednesday, March 24, from 8:30 a.m. - 9:40 p.m.

     In remembrance of Carl Sagan and as part of NASA's 40th 
anniversary celebration, the event will include a variety of panel 
discussions and exhibits.  Former and current astronauts will 
explore the risks and rewards of human exploration, and director 
of the Planetary Society Lou Friedman and Ann Druyan, wife of the 
late Carl Sagan, will talk about his legacy.  NASA Administrator 
Daniel S. Goldin will be on an evening panel addressing space 
exploration for a new generation.

     Among the many NASA exhibits on display are Moon and Mars 
rocks; an extravehicular space suit demonstration; an exhibit 
explaining the missions to assemble and inhabit the International 
Space Station; and the Mars Pathfinder engineering model used to 
test the actual spacecraft that landed on Mars.

     The event is free and open to media representatives and the 
public.  On-line registration for the event is available at:  

                        www.space2000org

and schedule information for the program panels is available at: 

               http://www.SPACE2000.org/program.htm

     A listing of all the exhibits is available at:  

               http://www.SPACE2000.org/exhibits.htm

     A map and directions to American University can be found at:  

                 www.american.edu/media/maps.htm

     The symposium will be broadcast on NASA Television located on 
GE-2, transponder 9C, located at 85 degrees West longitude, with 
vertical polarization.  Frequency will be on 3880.0 megahertz, 
with audio on 6.8 megahertz.  The TV schedule corresponds with the 
program panel schedule to be found at:  

               http://www.SPACE2000.org/program.htm

     The symposium is sponsored by American University, NASA, the 
DC Space Grant Consortium and the American Astronautical Society.  

                                -end-