ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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On May 25, 2008, NASA's Phoenix spacecraft is scheduled to touch down 
in Mars' northern polar region, to begin a 90-day mission to study 
the history of water and habitability potential in the Martian 
arctic's ice-rich soil.

The landing events will be broadcast on NASA TV and covered by major 
news outlets.   In addition, throughout the 90-day mission, museums, 
science centers, and planetaria will have access to the latest 
images, videos, news, and plans through a dedicated website, e-mail 
notifications, and professional development opportunities for you, 
your staff, and your docents/volunteers. In addition, you will have 
the opportunity to advertise events and exhibits at your organization 
on the public NASA Mars web page 
(http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/events/Mars_Events.html).

Your commitment will be to comply with all NASA/JPL processes 
regarding release of news and images, and to tell us how you use the 
images and information, including audience demographics.

The sign up form is at http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/alliance/. 
You will have access to the Museum Alliance listserve, website, and 
telecons, and receive educational and multimedia materials such as 
DVDs.  Please read the FAQ on  the signup page.

The Museum Alliance began with the 2004 landings of the Mars 
Exploration Rovers, and today encompasses a network of staff at over 
250 museums, science centers, planetariums, zoos, aquariums, nature 
centers, and observatory visitor centers worldwide.  Special foci in 
2008 include Mars, Earth science, International Polar Year, 
astrobiology, the Hubble servicing mission, Lunar Reconnaissance 
Orbiter/Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, and the 
flight of STS-119, which will include two Educator Astronauts (Joe 
Acaba and Ricky Arnold).  Preparations for the 2009 International 
Year of Astronomy are also underway.

If you have any questions, feel free to call or e-mail me.

On to Mars!

--Anita Sohus
[log in to unmask]
818-354-6613

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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