NASA SPACELINK BACKGROUND

NASA Spacelink runs on a Data General ECLIPSE MV-7800 minicomputer located at
the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
NASA Spacelink software was developed and donated to NASA by the Data
General Corporation of Westboro, Massachusetts. The system has a main
memory of 14 megabytes (14 million characters), disk storage space for 708
megabytes, and can communicate with eight callers simultaneously at 300,
1200, or 2400 baud. NASA Spacelink is a dynamic systemthat will change and
expand daily. It was made available to the public in February, 1988.

Initial funding for NASA Spacelink was provided by the Educational Affairs
Division at NASA Headquarters. The NASA Spacelink data base is maintained
by the Public Services and Education Branch of the Marshall Space Flight
Center Public Affairs Office. Operational support is provided by the
Information Systems Office at the Marshall Center. Information on NASA
scientific projects and educational programs is provided to NASA Spacelink
by education specialists at NASA Headquarters and the NASA field centers.

While NASA understands that people from a wide variety of backgrounds will
use NASA Spacelink, the system is specifically designed for teachers. The
data base is arranged to provide easy access to current and historical
information on NASA aeronautics and space research. Also included are
suggested classroom activities that incorporate information on NASA
projects to teach a number of scientific principles. Unlike bulletin board
systems, NASA Spacelink does not provide for interaction between callers.
However it does allow teachers and other callers to leave questions and
comments for NASA.