NASA to Explore Future Collaborations With State of Hawaii

NASA officials announced Wednesday they have agreed to explore future collaborations with the state of Hawaii in commercial space initiatives and programs supporting research, education and workforce development.

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed today in Hawaii, NASA Ames Research Center will explore opportunities for future collaborations with the state of Hawaii in support of the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA’s plan to return humans to the moon and later travel to Mars.

"This agreement with the state of Hawaii is another exciting opportunity for NASA to work with a partner in support of the agency’s exploration, science and aeronautics mission goals" said S. Pete Worden, director of NASA Ames Research Center.

"We are excited to partner with NASA to collaborate on future space exploration" said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, who signed the agreement with Worden during a signing ceremony in the Executive Chambers at the Hawaii State Capitol. "We are looking forward to future collaborations with NASA to develop innovative opportunities in aerospace-related fields that capitalize on Hawaii’s science and technology resources and capabilities"

The agreement with the state of Hawaii was negotiated through NASA’s Space Portal, a newly formed organization in NASA Research Park at Ames that seeks to engage new partnerships with NASA to promote the development of commercial space exploration.

The memorandum of understanding will be in effect for two years and stipulates that neither NASA nor the state of Hawaii will be required to pay any fees or provide funds to support the areas of collaboration.