11.10.

05

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