Okay, so it's not really the technology that's IN the board (although with some of our constructions it very well could be), but rather the graphic ON the board. After almost a year of selling last year's Tempest, we were contacted by one of NASA's very own SOHO (SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory) Deputy Project Scientists, Paal Brekke from ESA (European Space Agency). While conceptualizing the graphic for the 00/01 Tempest, Fank (one of our designers) pulled some SOHO images off of NASA's site that dealt with storms on the sun and planets in our solar system.

After the graphics were a hit, he downloaded some hi-res versions and finished the line. On NASA's site there's a document stating the legal uses for their imagery. It turns out Fank must've only gotten a couple sentences into the agreement, just reading the part that said anyone could use the imagery. It actually went on to say that anyone could use the imagery for educational purposes ONLY. Oops.

Paal contacted Fank by phone and let him know the legal issues regarding proper use of SOHO imagery. After some nervous listening on Fank's part, Paal went on to say that although the imagery was not used legally, SOHO was not going to pursue the matter and they were actually flattered by the use and impressed with the way the graphic turned out. As a gesture of relief and gratitude, Ride sent the SOHO team a couple of the boards with the graphic they were responsible for creating, and some other product to try out. One of the boards is now sitting in the SOHO museum, and the other is up on the hill being ridden by SOHO's finest.

Thanks to Paal and the rest of the SOHO team for producing such amazing imagery (and allowing us to use it). Cheers!

Check out some more insane imagery at SOHO's site: http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/

— Posted by Ari Cheren, MountainZone.com Staff