LANDING LAUNCHES TOY SALES.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission is hot - so hot that toys based on the spacecraft are being sold out of local stores. In a buying frenzy Monday at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory “JPL” redirects here. For other uses, see JPL (disambiguation). Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a NASA research center located in the cities of Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge, near Los Angeles, California, USA. , employees and visitors scooped up handfuls of the miniature vehicles. ``History is being made,'' said JPL (language) JPL - JAM Programming Language. security guard Jack Blancos who bought one of the $5 toy sets for his father-in-law, a space buff in Chicago. Mattel Inc., under a licensing agreement with JPL, has created a Hot Wheels Hot Wheels is a brand of die cast toy car, introduced by American toymaker Mattel in 1968. It was the primary competitor of Johnny Lightning and Matchbox until 1996, when Mattel acquired rights to the Matchbox brand from Tyco. JPL Sojourner Mars Rover A Mars rover is an unmanned rover used for exploration of the planet Mars. They are deployed because it has so far been too costly and difficult to achieve a manned mission to Mars, and because probes and satellites are too limited (due to their immobility or their distance from Action Pack to celebrate the historic landing July 4 on the Red Planet. ``We thought it was a great way to make science fun for kids,'' Mattel spokeswoman Sara Rosales said. The agreement is the first of its kind for Mattel and JPL, which will use the proceeds to subsidize educational and research projects. ``This was an experiment for both Mattel and us,'' said Jim Rooney Jim Rooney can refer to:
Rooney hopes the toys introduce a new generation to the space age. ``This is really an experiment for us to see if there's a better ways to engage the public and to allow the public to participate in the mission,'' he said. The pack contains three toys: the Pathfinder spacecraft, the lander and the six-wheeled Sojourner rover, which is exploring the Red Planet. The toys have been available at Toys `R' Us and Kay-Bee Toys since mid-May but those looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the items said they cannot find them. ``We have employees calling relatives all over the country trying to find these things "These Things" is an EP by She Wants Revenge, released in 2005 by Perfect Kiss, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. Music Video The music video stars Shirley Manson, lead singer of the band Garbage. Track Listing 1. "These Things [Radio Edit]" - 3:17 2. ,'' said Mark Banuelos, administrator of JPL's Employees Recreation Club, which sells T-shirts, mugs and commemorative plates marking space missions. The store already is sold out of T-shirts, mugs and caps inspired by the Mars Pathfinder mission. At the Pasadena campus Monday, JPL employees and visitors scooped up handfuls of the toy vehicles, buying all 1,500 sets in 10 minutes. Second-grade teacher Diane Lazarus was one of the lucky ones. The Sherman Oaks resident bought four sets. Her aim is to purchase 20 more for her students who will study the Red Planet in the fall. ``They each are going to have their own little model. They'll be so excited,'' Lazarus said. ``I'll just have to save my money.'' And do a little searching. Mattel officials would not release the numbers of toys manufactured, but said they have been receiving calls from frantic parents and others searching for the newest member of the Hot Wheels family. Demand for the toys has risen in the weeks before the July 4 Mars landing A Mars landing is when a spacecraft lands on the surface of Mars. There have been many Mars landings, all of which as of 2007 have been unmanned. Unmanned landings Mars probe program
``We have a large section of adults collectors who see it as a collectable of a successful mission,'' Rosales said. The concept for the toy was born in 1995 when Mattel approached JPL's Technology Affiliates Program, which develops tools with private industry. In the past, the program has used heat-sensor technology to develop an infrared ear thermometer and research on tracking communications satellites to create a mobile antennae for satellite TV viewers. The toys are the first developed by Mattel that capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. a specific space mission. In the past, the El Segundo-based company has made generic toy reproductions of National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), space shuttles. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) Mattel Inc., with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has released a special Hot Wheels Mars action pack. Myung J. Chun/Daily News |
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