posted 10-08-2008 11:32 PM               

Aviation Week Celebrates NASA's 50th Anniversary With Special Coverage, Web Features and Events

Powered by its team of industry-leading reporters and editors, Aviation Week is marking NASA's 50th anniversary this year with special coverage of the agency's past, present and future, in print, online and at events. The coverage culminates with the September 29 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, which is titled "NASA at 50: Past Glories, Future Uncertainties," and features articles examining NASA's challenges amid shifting national priorities, aeronautics research on next-generation air transportation, and the continuing quest for extraterrestrial life, as well as an interview with NASA Administrator Michael Griffin about the agency's post-election future.

The coverage -- and discussion -- continues online, where AviationWeek.com's space channel includes a NASA anniversary microsite, with photos and videos, as well as an active blog devoted to space and maintained by reporter Graham Warwick.

"As the authoritative voice on space technology, Aviation Week has covered developments at NASA throughout its fascinating first 50 years," said Tom Henricks, president of Aviation Week and a NASA space shuttle pilot and commander from 1985-1997. "I am proud to be a part of NASA's history, and I'm proud of the key role our publications, websites, communities and events play in the space industry."

As part of the celebration, Mr. Henricks attended NASA's festivities in Washington last month, and chaired a session at the Association of Space Explorers Congress in Seattle on "Making the Case for Moon and Mars." In August, Mr. Henricks, who led the "all-Ohio" space shuttle mission in 1996, flew with the Blue Angels as part of the events during the Ohio Air Show. He also participated in celebrations featuring John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth; Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon; Jim Lovell, who commanded the safe return of Apollo 13; and Kathryn Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space.