Google+ Hangout with NASA for Small Businesses

NASA administrator Charles Bolden and Small Business Administration administrator Karen Mills will speak about the contributions of small businesses to the success of the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover mission during a Google+ Hangout at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Earlier, the White House decided to host a Google+ Hangout to answer consumer questions about refinancing options, with the participation of Zillow (NASDAQ: Z), a leading real estate information marketplace. (Read: White House to Talk Refinancing On Google+ for Homeowners)

In spoken words radioed to the rover on Mars and back to NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) on Earth, NASA administrator Charles Bolden (pictured above) noted the difficulty of landing a rover on Mars. (Read: When Human Voice Travels from Earth to Mars)

Meanwhile, in an effort to accelerate technology transfer from NASA into the hands of American businesses, industry and the public, the agency’s new Technology Transfer Portal is open for business. (Read: NASA Ready to Transfer its Technology to Businesses)

Bolden and Mills will discuss ATA Engineering, which partnered with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory team to test and analyze the entry, descent and landing of Curiosity.

[ Also Read: NASA to Host its Social Media Event ]

The company contributed to the rover’s wheels, actuators and thermal control systems. Bolden will speak from ATA Engineering’s headquarters in Herndon, Va.

A direct link to the hangout will be posted just before Wednesday’s scheduled start at 10:30 a.m., on NASA’s Google+ page: http://plus.google.com/+NASA

Photo courtesy: NASA