NASA to hold Boston 'Future Forum'

BOSTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. space agency Deputy Administrator Shana Dale will help kick off the agency's next "Future Forum" -- part of NASA's 50th anniversary celebration.

The event, to be held next Thursday at Boston's Museum of Science, is part of a year-long series celebrating the agency's anniversary. The Future Forum in Boston will focus on how space exploration benefits Massachusetts' economic and academic sectors.

During the forum, astronaut Nicholas Patrick will present highlights from his latest shuttle mission and Stephen Cook, manager of NASA's Ares projects at the Marshall Space Flight Center, will present an overview of the agency's plans to return astronauts to the moon and travel beyond. Other NASA participants include Joyce Winterton, the space agency's assistant administrator for education.

NASA said it will unveil a new educational product during the forum called NASA eClips, an on-demand, Web-based free service targeted at educators, students and the general public.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome by Iaonnis Miaoulis, the president and director of the Boston Museum of Science.

More information concerning NASA's 50th Anniversary Future Forums is available at http://www.nasa.gov/50th/future_forums.