Terri Sindelar

Headquarters, Washington, D.C. January 24,

1992
Phone: 202/453-8400) Embargoed until 3
p.m. ET

Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone: 202/453-8455)

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone: 202/453-1547)

RELEASE: 92-12

PRESIDENT BUSH LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL SPACE YEAR

President Bush today kicked-off International Space Year

(ISY) - a year-long, worldwide celebration of space
cooperation and discovery. Participating in the White House
event were NASA Administrator
Richard H. Truly, the crews of four of NASA's most recent
Space Shuttle missions, ISY dignitaries, and students and
teachers from the Young Astronaut Program.

During the year, 29 space agencies and ministries from

around the world, 10 international organizations and the
United Nations will celebrate the spirit of discovery and will
work together to promote a new era of global cooperation and
to increase knowledge of planet Earth.

NASA has been designated by Congress as the lead U.S.

agency responsible for developing and monitoring ISY events
domestically and internationally. Dr. Lennard Fisk, NASA's
Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, is
the lead representative for the U.S. ISY initiative.
 In 1985, the late Senator Spark Matsunaga from Hawaii
proposed a 1992 International Space Year to commemorate the
500th anniversary of Columbus' discovering the New World and
the 35th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year
that ushered in the space age. Congress adopted ISY in 1986
and the United Nations General Assembly endorsed it in 1989.
Today it has developed into a worldwide space activity.
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The dominant themes of ISY are global cooperation,

discovery, exploration and education. International
activities for ISY are coordinated by the Space Agency Forum
of ISY (SAFISY), whose membership is comprised of 29 space
agencies and ministries from around the world.

SAFISY has identified Mission to Planet Earth as the

primary theme for ISY. Scientists around the world are
observing and studying the planet to better understand the
complex interactions between land, water, air and ice and
assess such threats as global warming, deforestation and ozone
depletion.

NASA's Mission to Planet Earth began in 1991 with the

launch of the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite and will
continue in 1992 with the Atlas-1 Spacelab mission, an
international mission that will study Earth's atmosphere and
the sun. Later in 1992, Topex Poseidon, a joint mission with
France, will study ocean topography and its role in climate.

In addition, hundreds of education programs and public

events are planned throughout the world to highlight
discovery, exploration and humanity's future in space. The
projects include curricula, contests, exhibits, films,
television series and interactive teacher workshops.

NASA's Education Division chairs a subgroup on education,

comprised of representatives from government, private
organizations and the aerospace industry. NASA has prepared
an Educational Activities Catalogue which will be updated
quarterly. The catalog lists activities and provides names
and phone numbers of contacts. To request a copy, write to
Education Division, NASA Headquarters, Code FE, Washington,
D.C., 20546.

The U.S. International Space Year Association (US-ISY)

was established with support from NASA to provide information
on ISY events. US-ISY publishes a list of activities that can
be obtained by writing US-ISY, 600 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite
600, Washington, D.C., 20024, or by phoning 202/863-1734.

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Editor's Note: A 21-minute videotape about ISY is available

on 3/4-inch U-Matic cassette from NASA's Broadcast and Audio
Visual Branch, 202/453-8594.