Fifth Space Chat, Discussion On The Sun-Earth Connection, Living With A Star

	Gilberto Colon speaks to audience about 'Sun-Earth Connection'.

Members of the Goddard and surrounding communities gathered Thursday night, August 21 at the Visitor Center to listen, ask question and discuss current NASA research at Goddard known as the "Sun-Earth Connection."

This gathering was the fifth in a series known as "Space Chats." These presentations are an opportunity for Goddard's surrounding communities to better understand what is happening here by providing information about the latest findings in space and earth research here.

Gilberto Colon, associate director for the Sun Earth Connections Programs at Goddard presented the Sun Earth Connection/Living With a Star. He explained the program and how this research helps us to better understand the relationship between the Sun and Earth and the effects on our daily lives.

He began the evening comparing space science to earth science and explaining how the Sun-Earth Connection Programs was located within the Living With A Star Program within NASA's Enterprises. Colon stated that the purpose of the Sun-Earth Connection is to gather data to model and eventually predict the sun's behaviors.

"Our goal is to one day be able to predict space weather," said Colon. Using a slide presentation he explained the 11-year high and low activity cycle of the sun. This part of his presentation drew the most questions and discussion from the audience. He was able to show the mission time line for spacecraft launched or to be launched in these studies. Colon talked about plans for future missions that should better explain the sun's cycle.

	Another image of Gilberto Colon speaking at the Space Chats event.

He talked about how future missions will help in the study of the sun's influence and the study of space as a system. "We will then be able to develop models for predicting which will help us to eventually be able to forecast space weather," said Colon.

Colon spoke about the effects space weather has on spacecraft and how this study has and will also help NASA to develop more efficient and cost effective vehicles. "This will help us better understand how not to over build," stated Colon.

Finally Colon explained to the audience that the program also has an education component. Living With A Star has an education mission. That is to develop a program that will have an impact on our next generation of explorers as only NASA can and the community at large.

"We have workshops with teachers in our attempt to provide this information for the classroom and inspire our, your kids to study math and science," said Colon. "That is why we have presentations such as this," added Colon.

For more information about Living With A Star see the web site www.lsw.gsfc.nasa.gov.

On Thursday, August 28, the sixth in a series of "Space Chats" will conclude the month of presentations with "Mars Lives - The Story of a Planet that May Be Alive!" To be presented by Dr. James Garvin, the presentation will focus on NASA's bold mission to search our celestial neighbor for evidence for life, either in the distant past, recent times or even now. Missions to Mars are just gaining momentum and the findings of the latest space probes are quite revealing. Current and future missions offer the potential for significant new discoveries. Don't miss this opportunity to better understand a distant neighbor we call Mars.

While there is no fee for you to attend Space Chats, registration is required. Register on line at http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov by clicking on "Space Chats." Contact Michele Jones at 301-286-8102 for future information.