The event will take place from 8 a.m.-noon PCT, on Friday, July 20, at the university's Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. Media interested in attending the event must respond by Wednesday, July 18, to Heather Ogletree at heather.l.ogletree@nasa.gov or Susan Brew at sbrew@lpl.arizona.edu.

Gene Giacomelli, Ph.D., and his team of students, along with U.S. and international partners, will discuss their lunar greenhouse model designs that could provide a bioregenerative life support system for future space habitats. Giacomelli, with the support from Ray Wheeler, NASA technical monitor for the project, began the second phase of research in July 2011. The prototype lunar greenhouse works as a bioregenerative life support system through the design and construction of an innovative hydroponic plant growth chamber.

The panel will discuss advancements in lunar greenhouse technology, the future of the project, partnerships created through the grant and the potential applications of the research. The University of Arizona is one of five universities nationwide awarded $250,000 through NASA's Ralph Steckler Space Grant Colonization Research and Technology Development Opportunity Phase II.

In addition, a representative from NASA Johnson Space Center's Office of Education will be available to take questions regarding NASA internship opportunities.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: