NASA Chief Technologist to Visit Tustin's L'Garde Inc Thursday

[NASA News <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

March 9, 2012

David E. Steitz 
Headquarters, Washington                                    
202-358-1730/202-236-5829 
david.steitz@xxxxxxxx 

Nathan Barnes 
L'Garde Inc., Tustin, Calif. 
714-259-0771 ext 225 
nathan_barnes@xxxxxxxxxx 

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-040

NASA CHIEF TECHNOLOGIST TO VISIT TUSTIN'S L'GARDE INC THURSDAY

WASHINGTON -- NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck will visit L'Garde 
Inc., in Tustin, Calif., on Thursday, March 15, at 9 a.m. PDT. Peck's 
visit will highlight ways government can partner with small business 
to help create the jobs of the future through investment in science 
and technology. 

L'Garde has received several contracts with NASA on a variety of 
projects, including the creation of inflatable structures for radio 
frequency antennas and solar arrays. In 1996, L'Garde flew the 
Inflatable Antenna Experiment aboard space shuttle flight STS-77. 
Most recently, L'Garde was awarded a NASA Technology Demonstration 
Mission (TDM) contract to build and fly a large solar sail in 2014. 

Solar sails are a possible alternative to conventional fuels for 
interplanetary flight. The L'Garde TDM solar sail will demonstrate 
the potential of sails for use in future missions and pave the way 
toward new space capabilities. L'Garde is partnering with commercial 
and government groups for this effort. 

Peck and L'Garde's Chief Operating Officer Nathan Barnes will be 
available to speak with reporters during a tour of the L'Garde 
facility at 15181 Woodlawn Ave., in Tustin, beginning at 9 a.m. There 
will be photo opportunities with Peck and Barnes during the tour. 

Journalists wanting to attend the event should call Diane Freund at 
714-259-0771, ext. 258, or email diane_freund@xxxxxxxxxx by 3 p.m., 
Tuesday, March 13, to be badged into the L'Garde facility. For more 
information about L'Garde, visit: 

http://www.lgarde.com 

For a biography of NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck and information 
about his office, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/oct 

	
-end-



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