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From: davidd@lmsmgr.lerc.nasa.gov (David DeFelice, 3-6186)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Lewis Makes Internet Television a Reality Worldwide
Date: 2 Nov 1994 01:49:45 -0800
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
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LEWIS MAKES INTERNET TELEVISION A REALITY WORLDWIDE

by Doreen B. Zudell
(Reprinted from the October 7, 1994 edition of the LEWIS NEWS) 

Thousands of people around the world, many of whom had never seen
a shuttle launch, were able to view the STS-64 Space Shuttle
Discovery mission thanks to CU-SeeMe, a new desktop video-
conference program developed at Cornell University and in use on
the Internet.

While normal reception of a shuttle launch broadcast requires a
satellite dish or access to a cable provider that carries NASA
service, placing video and audio streams on the Internet enables
properly equipped computers worldwide to receive NASA Television,
including many K-12 schools.

"Lewis receives NASA TV video and audio signals from a satellite
link operated by Goddard Space Flight Center.  To get out to the
Internet, the satellite downlink received at Lewis is packetized
using CU-SeeMe software on a Macintosh computer.  It is then
relayed to a Sun computer running Cornell's reflector software,"
explained Michael Baldizzi, Telecommunications and Networking
Branch, Computer Services Division.

Baldizzi first began experimentally re-broadcasting the NASA
Television downlink over the Internet using CU-SeeMe in March
1994.  Since then he has set up and assisted with transmission of
numerous space shuttle missions and NASA-related conferences to
countries as far as Japan and Norway.  Currently, Lewis is the
only NASA center that offers this service.  Since March, nearly
4,000 viewers have attached to the Lewis reflector to view NASA
Television.

"CU-SeeMe is a little like a video telephone," said Baldizzi. 
"When connecting to a public reflector you never know who you
might be on-line with.  During one videoconference, I was able to
view and talk with people in Antarctica, Hawaii, and Norway at
the same time."

CU-SeeMe is quickly becoming a popular medium for education, and
has been utilized by Vice President Al Gore with the K-12 Global
Schoolhouse initiative.  Through Lewis' involvement, classrooms
around the world can now view live NASA shuttle missions and
other programming. 

CU-SeeMe is intended to provide useful videoconferencing at
minimal cost, explained Baldizzi.  Receiving requires only a Mac
or a PC with a connection to the Internet.  Sending requires the
same, plus a camera and a video digitizing board.

[The LEWIS NEWS is the official newsletter of the NASA Lewis
Research Center, in Cleveland, Ohio.]

Note:  Detailed information on accessing CU-SeeMe is available in
the World Wide Web via URL

   http://netgopher.lerc.nasa.gov/NASA_Select/NASA_Select.html

Coverage will be provided for the upcoming STS-66 mission.


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David M. DeFelice - NASA Lewis Research Center - Community Relations Office
(216) 433-6186            Cleveland, Ohio       davidd@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov
___________________________________________________________________________

    "Why can't life be menu driven or at least have an 'undo' feature?"
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