, January 8, 1996 (Redmond, WA) — Next in its Live Expedition series, Mungo Park™ , online adventure magazine from Microsoft, follows NASA’s Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission to dock with Russian Space Station Mir. Not only can readers see the STS-81 space shuttle team activities from launch to landing, the January issue of Mungo Park ( (http://mungopark.MSN.com) ) will also feature the first daily diary accounts downlinked to earth from an astronaut during a mission and will attempt the first live Internet interview with the shuttle and space station crews from space, and first surround video from space. Readers can also enter the Mungo Park Space Contest and win a free trip to a future shuttle launch and a DC 25 digital camera from Kodak.
Join Mungo Park on shuttle launch day, January 12th, as best-selling author Tom Clancy offers his perspective of the launch and space in a live dispatch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
“I have always been fascinated by space and technology,”
says Tom Clancy.
“Mungo Park brings both of those passions together with a really unique point of view on space, cutting edge technology and excellent writing. It’s exciting to be a part of this.”
Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer Nathan Myhrvold and Mungo Park editor-in-chief Richard Bangs, will also be on hand to experience the launch and share their thoughts. Together they will capture the imagination and wonder of space and bring it to a global audience via the Internet.
The Mungo Park
“STS-81: Live From Space”
issue, which goes live on January 8th, will be entirely devoted to space. This issue will provide a unique point of view about space through a compelling combination of top-quality writing and multi-media elements, in its four editorial departments.
In addition to the launch dispatches, will offer a very real perspective on space travel, allowing readers to see the space shuttle team activities throughout the
ten-day mission. During the course of the mission, join the crew members of Space Shuttle Atlantis as reported by Dr. John Grunsfeld, astronaut, astrophysicist, and mountain climber, providing an insider’s view of daily life on board the shuttle — from eating in space to docking with the Mir space station. On the ground, at mission control in Houston, Richard Bangs offers a behind the scenes look at NASA’s ground team in action. The site will also offer additional background on the crew through profiles of all five astronauts.
“At The Park”
is the place to go to capture the community of Mungo Park including live chats. As part of the January space edition, Mungo Park will feature live chats with former astronauts and will allow readers to
“ask the astronauts and mission control”
whatever comes to mind. At the Park will also feature Mungo Park’s first contest. Simply guess the exact time the Atlantis shuttle will land and win a free trip to Cape Canaveral to watch a future shuttle launch. One winner will receive an all-expense paid trip including a free tour of Kennedy Space Center and a DC 25 digital camera from Kodak, the official sponsor of the
“STS-81: Live From Space”
edition.
As part of the Mungo Park January edition, the Wild Lit section will feature excerpts from best-selling authors who have written about space and influenced perceptions about it. Examples include
“Fire!”
and
“The Projectile Vehicle”
by Jules Verne and writing from Barry Lopez, Deepak Chopra, Tim Cahill and Tom Robbins.
The Drum section includes regular columns from well-known journalists such as Virginia Morrell, and Franz Lidz, staff writer for Sports Illustrated . In honor of space men everywhere, January’s Drum includes Lidz’s perspective on space food, from space tortillas (which also come in handy as space kleenexes) to space sweet ‘n sour beef (whose texture resembles that of a tootsie roll – yum!).
Also in Drum, learn what’s space chic and what’s not, and read all about the different components to space dressing and why. You can even dress your own astronaut with drag and drop clothing. Rounding out Drum in January will be Virginia Morrell’s piece entitled
“On Life’s Heavenly Origins,”
which explores scientific discoveries, evolution and more.
Join us on January 8th at (http://mungopark.MSN.com/) when Mungo Park
“STS-81: Live From Space”
goes live and begins its countdown to shuttle launch. Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a free trip to Cape Canaveral to watch a future shuttle launch and a DC 25 digital camera from Kodak, the official sponsor of the Mungo Park space edition.
Mungo Park is accessible free of charge on the Internet and MSN™ , The Microsoft Network. Mungo Park is also a featured part of Microsoft Expedia™ travel services.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing everyday.
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Contact:Gerri Kelly
Edelman Worldwide
(312) 240-2743
[email protected]
