NASA Brings Vision for Space Exploration to North Carolina

Lindsay Crouch
Phone: (757) 864-3189, (757) 870-6912, (mobile)

11.10.05
MEDIA ADVISORY: 05-077


NASA Brings Vision for Space Exploration to North Carolina


Former Astronaut and Director of NASA's Langley Research Center Roy D.
Bridges Jr. will visit Vance Elementary School, Asheville, N.C., on Friday,
Nov. 18, to kick off the newly established educational partnership between
NASA and the school and to bring the Vision of Space Exploration to students
and their families.

He will also participate in a Family Night presentation on Thursday, Nov.
17, at Vance Elementary School at 6:00 p.m. The public is invited to the
Family Night event.

Bridges will encourage students to study math and science so they can pursue
careers in aeronautics and space as they discuss NASA's plans to return to
the moon and go on to Mars. The Family Night event is designed to bring the
excitement of space exploration to all residents of Asheville and the
surrounding area.

What: Family Night
When: 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17
Who: Former Astronaut and Langley Research Center Director Roy Bridges Jr.
Whe Vance Elementary School
What: Student Assembly
When: 9:00 a.m. Friday, Nov. 18
Who: Former Astronaut and Langley Research Center Director Roy Bridges Jr.
Whe Vance Elementary School

Media interested in covering the events or arranging an interview with
Bridges should contact Lindsay Crouch at 757-864-3189 or 757-870-6912
(mobile) by 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.
Bridges is the former director of NASA's Langley Research Center as well as
NASA's Kennedy Space Center. He was selected as a NASA astronaut and was the
pilot on the space shuttle Challenger in July 1985. He is a retired U.S. Air
Force Major General, and before his time at NASA, he was commander at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and at Patrick Air Force Base, Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Bridges has received many awards and
honors, including NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Presidential
Meritorious Executive Award.
Vance Elementary School was named one of NASA's 2005 Explorer Schools in
May. The school started the program this fall and will continue the
partnership for the next three years.
The NASA Explorer School (NES) program is sponsored by NASA to help
educators and students join NASA's mission of discovery through educational
activities and special learning opportunities tailored to promote science,
mathematics and technology applications and career explorations.
Over the next three years, students in the NES program will participate in
digital conferences with scientists and engineers at NASA. Educators will
also take the hands-on activities to their students to provide exciting
learning experiences in the science, mathematics and technology fields.

To learn more about the NES program, please visit:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home



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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info