NASA, USDA Sign Space Station Research Agreement

July 23, 2008

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
john.yembrick-1@xxxxxxxx

Matt Macokowiak
Office of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Washington
202-224-9782
matt_mackowiak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sandy Miller Hays
USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Md.
301-504-1636
sandy.millerhays@xxxxxxxxxxxx

RELEASE: 08-184

NASA, USDA SIGN SPACE STATION RESEARCH AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.)
hosted NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and Secretary of
Agriculture Edward T. Schafer during the signing of a memorandum of
understanding to enable the USDA's Agricultural Research Service to
conduct plant related research on the International Space Station.

The research will improve our understanding of biological cellular
mechanisms and may lead to creative new ways to improve American
agriculture, protect the environment and contribute to better human
health. The agreement reflects NASA's ongoing efforts to develop the
space station as a national laboratory, with the ability to serve a
broad range of users.

Senator Hutchison introduced the NASA Authorization Act of 2005,
which
envisioned a cooperative relationship for the space station and NASA.
This agreement is the second of what NASA hopes will be many similar
agreements with other federal agencies, universities, and private
sector research organizations. The first NASA partnership agreement
for use of the station as a national laboratory was signed with the
National Institutes of Health last September.

For more information about the space station and its use as a
national
laboratory, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

EDITORS NOTE: NASA Television will air video file footage of
Wednesday's signing ceremony with Hutchison, Griffin and Schafer
starting at 6 p.m. EDT today. High resolution photographs of the
signing also will be available via the NASA Web site at:

http://www.nasa.gov


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