NASA, Disney sign an educational agreement

Washington -- The U.S. space agency and Walt Disney Studios have signed an agreement to promote science and technology to schoolchildren.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the "Space Act Agreement" calls for a series of educational and public outreach activities related to Disney-Pixar's new movie, "WALL-E" that opens June 27.

NASA officials said the collaboration highlights the similarities between the movie's storyline and NASA's real-life work in robot technology, propulsion systems and astrophysics. The movie is set 700 years in the future. The film's main character -- the only rover-robot left on Earth -- meets a new robot named Eve, and together they take a journey through the universe.

"Great ideas for future exploration of the universe start with the imagination," said Robert Hopkins, chief of strategic communications at NASA.

"We hope that with the help of our new robot friend WALL-E, NASA can encourage young people to learn about science and technology and become the explorers of tomorrow."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.