Actor Dwayne Johnson, formerly known as "The Rock,"
is helping to spread the benefits of NASA in a new series of public
service announcements (PSAs) timed with the release of Sony Pictures'
animated feature film "Planet 51."
"Films are such a powerful way to reach out to new
audiences and excite them about space exploration," NASA
Deputy Administrator Lori Garver said in a statement. "Dwayne will
enlighten families about the importance of learning science and math and
celebrating others' differences. He also informs the public about some
NASA technologies which are used right here on Earth."
In the PSAs, Johnson touts NASA's role in education,
recycling and the development of new technologies, commonly referred to
as "spinoffs."
In the fourth public service announcement about diversity,
Johnson underscores the importance of a global work force: "On
this planet promoting diversity is very important. At NASA, astronauts
from all nationalities and backgrounds work together aboard
the International Space Station to help improve our lives here on Earth.
I'm here to tell you that every barrier is meant to be broken, whether it's
the sound barrier, the farthest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, the outer
limits of our solar system, or the challenges we face here at home."
In the animated comedy "Planet 51," Johnson voices the
American astronaut Charles "Chuck" Baker, whose suit is adorned with the
NASA insignia courtesy of the space agency.
In the movie, Baker, who lands on Planet 51 thinking he's
the first person to step foot on it, finds to his surprise that this planet
is inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white-picket-fence
world reminiscent of 1950s America, and whose only fear is that it will be
overrun by alien invaders.
NASA flew a DVD copy of the film aboard space shuttle Discovery
to the International Space Station last August to celebrate "Planet 51,"
which opened in theaters on Friday.
Watch all
four of Dwayne Johnson's NASA public service announcements at collectSPACE.com.
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