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.