HAMPTON, Va., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Local media are invited to a roundtable discussion at 11 a.m. EST on Nov. 30 at NASA's Langley Research Center to discuss how the center is working with commercial partners to support NASA's exploration of the Moon and Mars.

"Just like Apollo and Langley's contributions with the lunar orbiter program, our contributions to the new lunar exploration program, in particular with robotic surface missions that will precede human missions, will help define or determine the best places for humans to land once again," said Walt Engelund, Langley's director of space technology and exploration.

The agency will be hosting an announcement of new Moon partnerships with American companies at 2 p.m. EST on Nov. 29 at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. To participate in person or receive dial-in information for the follow-on Langley event, media should contact Kristyn Damadeo at 757-864-1090 or kristyn.damadeo@nasa.gov. For those who are interested but cannot attend video footage is available.

Under Space Policy Directive-1, the agency will lead an innovative and sustainable exploration of the Moon together with commercial and international partners. Langley is working with American companies to help them understand and implement technologies supporting entry, descent and landing, in-space assembly, and habitats and radiation protection.

For more information about NASA's exploration of the Moon and Mars, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars

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SOURCE NASA