Nobel Laureate Smalley To Discuss Future of Civil Space

CONTACT: Lia Unrau

PHONE: (713)
831-4793

E-MAIL: unrau@rice.edu

NOBEL LAUREATE SMALLEY TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF CIVIL
SPACE

The promise of carbon
nanotechnology for the future of the space program, including new materials made
from super-strong yet lightweight carbon nanotubes, will be discussed by Rice
University chemist Richard Smalley.

Smalley, winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, will
speak on July 23 as part of a panel discussion called ”The Future of Civil
Space.” The topic of his talk is ”New Technologies on the Horizon.” A question
and answer period will follow the panel talks.

The talks are part of ”Space Summit: NASA Planning for the
New Millennium,” hosted by U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX).

The summit is scheduled for 2-4 p.m. at the United Space
Alliance Headquarters, located at 1150 Gemini in Clear Lake, Texas.

Smalley says super-strong yet lightweight carbon nanotubes
are promising for materials such as new electric cabling, nanometer-sized
electronics, applications in medicine, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, space
suits, tethers and extraordinarily light gossamer sails.

”I am particularly pleased that Dr. Smalley, who has spent
his academic career exploring new ways to make our lives here on Earth better,
will be joining me at Friday’s Space Summit,” Lampson said from his Capitol Hill
office. ”As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first lunar landing this
week, it is evident to me that the future of research like Dr. Smalley’s and the
entire human space exploration program at NASA is not only important to the
Houston-Clear Lake area, but also the entire state of Texas.”

For more information, contact Lia Unrau in the Rice Office
of Media Relations and Information at (713) 831-4793 or Monette Goodrich in Rep.
Lampson’s Office at (202) 225-6565.

###