NASA Digest, Vol 55, Issue 5

	December 07, 2017  MEDIA ADVISORY M17-146 NASA Highlights Jupiter, Search for Life at American Geophysical Union   This illustration depicts NASA's Juno spacecraft soaring over Jupiter's south pole. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech   Prominences are seen as the moon begins to move off the sun during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 above Madras, Oregon. The total solar eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina. Credits: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani NASA researchers will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, Dec. 11-15 in New Orleans. NASA-related briefings will stream live on the agency's website. Media registration is open for the event, which will be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center at 900 Convention Center Blvd. Briefing topics include: the latest findings from the Juno mission at Jupiter; the search for life across the universe; early science results from the August 2017 total solar eclipse; and the surprising resilience of a newborn Pacific Island. Agency scientists, and their colleagues who use NASA research capabilities, also will present noteworthy findings during scientific sessions that are open to registered media. Details on NASA presentations will be updated online throughout the week. For a complete and up-to-date schedule of briefings and media participation information, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/agu To watch the NASA-related briefings live, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/live For more information about NASA missions and programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov
	Press Contacts Steve Cole Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0918 stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov

	December 07, 2017  RELEASE 17-094 NASA Selects Three Companies to Develop 'FabLab' Prototypes NASA is taking the next step in the development of a space-based, on-demand fabrication capability by partnering with three U.S. companies, under NASA's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program, to create prototypes. The selected companies are: Interlog Corporation of Anaheim, California; Techshot, Inc. of Greeneville, Indiana; and Tethers Unlimited, Inc. of Bothell, Washington. Combined funding for the awards is approximately $10.2 million. These companies will have 18 months to deliver the prototype, after which NASA will select partners to further mature the technologies. Earlier this year, NASA sought proposals for ground-based prototypes of a multi-material fabrication lab, or FabLab, under Appendix B of the NextSTEP-2 Broad Agency Announcement. With these new partnerships, the agency is prepared to take the effort to the next level. "NASA is challenging industry partners to expand possibilities for making, repairing and recycling items in space," said Niki Werkheiser, lead for in-space manufacturing at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "The FabLab prototypes will provide valuable insights and help lay the foundation for meaningful on-demand manufacturing capabilities needed for sustainable human spaceflight missions." FabLab is part of a broad agency strategy and series of investments managed by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems Division and Space Technology Mission Directorate to advance key technology capability areas.
	Press Contacts Cheryl Warner Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov