Smithsonian Channel To Air Special "Arthur Christmas" Segment Featuring NASA Spinoff Technology

David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington

Warren Betts/Brian Boothe

WBC/ZoomWerks

WASHINGTON -- Have you ever been curious about where all the technology in your school, home, car, computer, or office comes from? You might be surprised that a great percentage of the technology we rely on each day was developed or enhanced by NASA. We all know about NASA's outstanding accomplishments in space, but few of us know just how much the space agency has accomplished right here at home. Except for Arthur. Arthur Christmas, that is.

This year in the holiday release of "Arthur Christmas," Santa's North Pole has turned to high technology to run a precise operation in getting billions of gifts delivered around the world. Run by thousands of computer-savvy elves, the North Pole uses NASA-style technology to track the delivery of gifts around the Earth as they are being delivered by Santa's high speed S-1. The S-1 is a giant spacecraft in the shape of a sleigh.

Sony Pictures Animation team created a special one-minute segment from the film to help bring attention to the many high tech gadgets and everyday items that come from NASA technology. The educational segment will premiere on the Smithsonian Channel during primetime on Tuesday, Nov. 22. It also can be downloaded for use by educators and media at http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/arthur_christmas.html.

"This was an exciting opportunity for us to have real examples of space technology being used right here on Earth featured in a family holiday film," said Daniel Lockney, NASA's technology transfer program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "NASA is constantly creating innovative technologies to enable our current and future missions. Many of these technologies get further developed and turned into consumer products by American industries, creating jobs, fueling the economy, and saving and improving lives around the planet."

NASA's technology transfer program provides corporations and innovators with opportunities to bring technology initially developed for space to consumers around the world. Hundreds of examples of NASA spinoff technologies and innovations that have become viable commercial products and are now used in our everyday lives can be found at NASA's Spinoff website http://spinoff.nasa.gov.

Sony Pictures Animation is the creator of "Arthur Christmas," directed by Sarah Smith. The film is a 3D holiday feature animation, starring the voices of James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton. Sony Pictures Animation is one of the leading animation companies in the industry, producing exciting and advanced animated family entertainment.

Arthur Christmas opens Nov. 23.

For more information about the Smithsonian Network, visit http://www.smithsonianchannel.com.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit http://www.nasa.gov.

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