NASA Is Expanding Offer For Space Shuttle Tiles And Food

Sept. 4, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 12-304

NASA IS EXPANDING OFFER FOR SPACE SHUTTLE TILES AND FOOD

WASHINGTON -- NASA is expanding its offer to museums and schools of
space shuttle heat shield tiles and food packaged for spaceflight.
Beginning Tuesday, museums across the United States will be eligible
to receive these pieces of space history, in addition to the schools
and universities that have received them since the end of the Space
Shuttle Program.

Providing space shuttle thermal protection tiles and dehydrated
astronaut food to museums is a way for NASA to share technology and
history with the public. This initiative helps NASA inspire the next
generation of space explorers, scientists and engineers.

The lightweight tiles protected the shuttles from extreme temperatures
when they re-entered Earth's atmosphere. The astronaut food was
precooked or processed so it required no refrigeration and was ready
to eat. It could be prepared simply by adding water or by heating.

Requests for these artifacts are filled on a first-come, first-served
basis. Museums must obtain a user ID and password from their state
agency for surplus property. Eligible educational institutions need
their National Center for Education Statistics or Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data System numbers assigned by the U.S.
Department of Education to apply for this offer. Schools and museums
can obtain additional information, register for a login ID, and
request a tile or food at:

http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm

Tiles are available in three types: black-coated, white-coated and
uncoated. Institutions may request up to three tiles, one of each
type, while supplies last. Schools and museums are responsible for a
$23.40 shipping and handling fee per tile, which is payable to the
shipping company through a secure website. Space food is offered as a
package of approximately three space food items for a shipping and
handling fee of $28.03. Institutions may request only one package of
space food.

NASA also is offering artifacts representing significant human
spaceflight technologies, processes and accomplishments from its
space exploration programs. Artifacts include 11 Fastrac engine
nozzles used on X-34 aircraft; models of aircraft fuselages tested at
NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.; early space shuttle
prototype models; Ranger, Telestar, Explorer XII, Mariner VII, Nimbus
and other spacecraft models; X3 solar mirrors; and various space
shuttle components.

For additional information about thermal tiles, space food and other
NASA artifacts, available to museums and libraries, visit:

http://artifacts.nasa.gov/

For NASA Tiles for Teachers lesson plans, visit:

http://artifacts.nasa.gov/shuttle_tiles_teachers.htm


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