NASA offers webcast course
for university credit
Explore the geological wonders of the Rio Tinto (the Red Tinted River) of Southern Spain — considered by scientists to be comparable to the conditions on Mars. Learn the challenges and techniques of discovering subsurface life within the Rio Tinto area in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Scientists involved in the Mars Ground Truth Drilling Team will share their experiences in eight webcast lectures. The lectures, available in both English and Spanish, will begin Sept. 29 and continue through Oct. 15. All will be conducted live from Rio Tinto, Spain. A bonus lecture will discuss communication technology NASA used to connect this remote site to the United States and Spain. San Jose State University’s Department of Technology in the College of Engineering, in partnership with NASA’s Robotics Education Project, is offering one university semester credit for this class titled,” Individual Studies in Technology Issues.” For more information, go to http://www.nasa.gov/news/special/robotics_webclass.html

The Cape Canaveral Spaceport Hispanic Heritage Month
The Hispanic Employment Program Working Group will host its 18th annual Hispanic Luncheon at the Kurt Debus Conference Center Friday Oct. 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can feast on savory Hispanic food and enjoy live cultural entertainment. The guest speaker is Ramon [Ray] Lugo, deputy director, Launch Services Program. Luncheon tickets can be purchased for $15 per person from the following: Joe Tellado, SSPF/3002Q, 867-6064; Luis Moctezuma, SSPF/3082E, 867-6597; Pete Carrion, HQ/2215C, 867-0845; Wanda Petty, HQ/2321B, 867-9175/65; Lydia Del Rio, HQ/2223A, 867-2575; Rosaly Santos-Ebaugh, O&C/ 3035, 867-8402; Pete Rosado, OSB/5203B, 861-3648; Henry Bursian, OSB/5101N. 861-3870; Luis Saucedo, OPF/3092, 861-5969; Lina Rosado, Center for Space Ed./ 1000, 867-2959/4090; Gladys Morales, CCAFS/CCSMO & JBOSC I Annex Bldg/225, 476-4906.
Bus transportation will be available to and from the event.

Insulate to save energy at home
What does insulation actually do for your home? Fiber glass insulation keeps your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, because insulation resists the flow of heat. Heat always seeks a cooler area – flowing out of the home in the winter and into the home in the summer. By reducing heat flow, a properly insulated home uses less energy for heating and cooling. In addition to being an energy saver, fiber glass insulation also acts as a sound absorber. When installed in walls and ceilings, it can reduce the transmission of sound from one room to another or from the outside. In today’s noise-laden environments, more and more homeowners are soundproofing their homes. A well-insulated home increases the overall comfort of the home and adds to its resale value. Whether your home is new or old, it pays to insulate.

KSC Amateur Astronomers
The KSC Amateur Astronomy Group will be holding its next meeting Thursday, Sept. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in the O&C Bldg., Room 3002 [3rd floor, east end]. All NASA-KSC and Contractor employees are welcome. For information about the group, see http://www.4saleusa.net/kscaa/ .