NASA probably has a public relations department that handles communication with journalists. They may be able to put you in touch with someone who can answer your questions. Employees may be permitted from speaking due to security clearances. When my daughter worked there for about 6 months as a consultant, I joked with her, "So, tell us all the things you're not supposed to talk about."  Silence😂. 

Frederick, you should call them. Be sure to contact the correct facility for what you want.

And be warned--everybody at NASA is lovely and helpful except for the spokesperson at JPL, who is an utter ass and will absolutely not answer questions--even though it's his job. If you need to talk to anybody at JPL you're going to need a workaround.

Because much of what happens at NASA is classified, it does not surprise me that they can't speak to you without permission. My son did an internship with a government contractor this fall. He did all data entry for them. That's pretty much all he could say about it. He wasn't even 18 yet, but he had a security clearance and wasn't permitted to tell his mother anything but adding items to a spreadsheet and the names of the people he reported too. It was pretty funny.

You will need to go through proper channels for both agencies. (Start with the PR department for ESA---maybe via a LinkedIn search.) And you may not get permission. Good luck.

Thank you for the quick response. I have written the script myself. I just have to let them see it and see what they think. But- I haven't gotten an answer yet on compensation. While it's all exciting to have my book made into a children's play- if there's no compensation- that would not feel fair.

Thanks-
Pat Stemper Vojta

Hi Pat. I see you asked the lawyer about the derivative work. Let me see i I can help clarify.

No one can work on a play from your book without your permission. You give them a license to create such work and can collect a royalty on what they earn from its performance. You can also limit where their versions can be used (say just for this theater company) or purchase the script from them. They own their script but they can only use if with your permission in the way you've agreed to.

I wouldn't let them do anything until your compensation and the rights you are licensing are spelled out in writing and signed by all parties. And don't sign it unless you are certain you understand it.

Hopefully someone else will answer your question about rates. That's outside my knowledge.