Speed2Design's Exploration & Discovery program brings engineers behind-the-scenes at NASA's Ames Research and Johnson Space Centers

CHICAGO--Littelfuse, Inc., the global leader in circuit protection, has created a NASA Exploration & Discovery Experience for the engineering community as part of its 2013 Speed2Design™ promotion. Winning design engineers will get an opportunity to go behind the scenes to spend time with NASA engineers at two premiere NASA facilities. Littelfuse will host Speed2Design TechTalk events at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., on August 15 and Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on October 24. Over the next few months, Littelfuse will randomly select 10 winners from those who enter the promotion to participate in each Speed2Design event. You can learn more and enter at the Littelfuse Speed2Design website.

Speed2Design Exploration & Discovery events were created by Littelfuse to allow the design community an exclusive opportunity to meet and talk with engineers working on some of the most exciting and advanced technology being developed today. The highlights of these events are the Speed2Design TechTalks, which offer a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer discussion with NASA engineers involved in the NASA Technology Transfer Program. These engineers are currently working on technological breakthroughs in small spacecraft, intelligent robotics, 3D printing, bioengineering and the NASA Space Portal. Hospitality events are also included the night before and day of the event.

There's no cost to the winners of the drawings to participate in the Exploration & Discovery events; as the host, Littelfuse will provide a travel voucher, lodging and event expenses.

"We created the 2013 Speed2Design Exploration & Discovery experience to bring engineers face-to-face with some of the most impressive technology on the planet," Cathy Whittaker, Director, Global Marketing Communications. "The design engineers we work with appreciate the technology challenges, demands and reliability required of the electronics that go into modern spacecraft and support systems. This year's Speed2Design events offer design engineers an opportunity to get an 'up close and personal' look at the world's most advanced technologies and to talk to space exploration experts who create these innovations."

The Littelfuse inaugural Speed2Design promotion in 2012 took winners behind the scenes for an IndyCar weekend race experience, complete with face-to-face TechTalks with IndyCar engineers responsible for building and maintaining racing's premiere performance machines. Littelfuse was a proud sponsor of Indy Racing League champion Tony Kanaan. This sponsorship provided an excellent opportunity to draw attention to the role of circuit protection technology in motorsports. The Speed2Design 2012 Highlights Video provides a fast-paced recap of the exciting racing season.

About NASA Technology Exchange

The NASA Ames Technology Partnerships Division facilitates transfer of NASA Ames Research Center technologies and capabilities into NASA's Mission Directorates, Programs, and Projects through investments and partnerships with industry, academia, government agencies, and national laboratories. These activities increase NASA's connection to emerging technologies in external communities and make NASA's technology portfolio available to industry and academia to support NASA's strategic goals. Technology transfer through dual-use partnerships and licensing also creates many important socio-economic benefits within the broader community.

The Technology Transfer and Commercialization Office (TTO) at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) facilitates the transfer and commercialization of NASA-sponsored research and technology as well as the use of JSC's unique research and development capabilities and facilities. The office works with entrepreneurs, companies, and investors, helping them license NASA-developed technologies so they can bring them to the marketplace. The office also works to develop partnerships with companies, universities, other federal agencies, and national labs that will leverage the partner's expertise and facilities as well as JSC's. Partnerships enable JSC to leverage technology being developed externally and infuse it into NASA programs.

About Speed2Design

Littelfuse Speed2Design program provides support and solutions for time-pressured electronic engineers around the world who are seeking answers and information about proper circuit protection technology, selection and best practices in design. The Speed2Design "rapid-response center" website provides design-related content that includes tutorials, selector guides, design kits, webcasts, sample circuits and FAQs. Interactive elements enable engineers to share their experiences or consult with others to solve their design problems including a Q&A forum, blogs and live chat.

About Littelfuse

Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry's broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 30 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Technologies offered by Littelfuse include Fuses; Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs); Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices (PTCs); PulseGuard® ESD Suppressors; SIDACtor® Devices; Silicon Protection Arrays (SPA® Diodes); Switching Thyristors; TVS Diodes and Varistors. The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable Electromechanical and Electronic Switch and Control Devices for commercial and specialty vehicles and Sensors for automobile safety systems, as well as Protection Relays and underground Power Distribution Centers for the safe control and distribution of electricity.

For more information, please visit the Littelfuse website: littelfuse.com.