Beginning this week, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, Calif., is seeking applications for people to become Solar System Ambassadors in 2001. This gives us the opportunity to piggyback on their enthusiasm and it gives them some extra credibility for going out into their communities. The ambassadors participate in teleconferences and Internet chats directly with scientists and engineers working on the missions. They also receive materials such as brochures, posters and color slides to help them excite other people about the wonders of the solar system. The ambassadors commit to arranging at least four public outreach projects during the year.
Projects range from library talks to original theater productions.
Last year, the events directly reached about 400,000 people. Like most of other ambassadors, Gass, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was an astronomy buff who enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm even before learning about this program. Now, the affiliation with JPL helps. I talk with the mission scientists. I've had training sessions.