NASA THANKS EAST TEXAS BY SHARING SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT

Oct. 19, 2005

Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, Houston
Phone: 281/483-5111



Report #J05-046

NASA THANKS EAST TEXAS BY SHARING SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT

NASA will show its appreciation to the people of East Texas who helped with
the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery effort through a series of events Nov.
6-10 in the communities that hosted recovery teams. The invitations are open
to the entire communities.

NASA leaders and astronauts will visit Hemphill, Nacogdoches, Lufkin,
Palestine and Corsicana. They will work with local community leaders to
recognize the efforts that provided the crucial first-response to the Feb.
1, 2003 accident and those who supported the three-month recovery of remains
of all Columbia crew members and 80,000 pieces of shuttle debris.

"This is our opportunity to return to these communities and let them
know that the work that they did continues to help NASA," said Bill
Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for space operations.
"The launch and safe return this summer of the Discovery crew would not
have been possible without the incredible dedication of the people of East
Texas. The lessons we learned from the debris they collected and the
support they provided were instrumental to a safe Return to Flight and a
boost to our spirit of exploration."

Speakers will include community leaders, NASA officials who supported the
recovery effort, and astronauts. A barbecue dinner will be served. The
celebration schedule includes:

.. Hemphill: 2-5 p.m., Nov. 6, VFW Hall.
.. Nacogdoches: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 7, Nacogdoches County
Exposition Center.
.. Lufkin: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 8, George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center.
.. Palestine: 5-8 p.m., Nov. 9, Roping & Riding Arena.
.. Corsicana: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 10, Navarro County College, Cook Center.

For more information about NASA programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info