Astronaut Richard Linnehan and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Deputy Director Steve Schmidt will visit Von Tobel Middle School, Las Vegas, Nev., to share the Vision for Space Exploration with tomorrow’s explorers. On Dec. 1, 2005, they will participate in a ‘launch’ event celebrating the selection of Von Tobel as a NASA Explorer School.
Schmidt and Linnehan will discuss NASA’s plans to return to the moon and explore Mars and the students’ role as the next generation of explorers. The pair will encourage students to pursue studies in math, science and technology and careers in aeronautics and space.
What: NASA Explorer School ‘Launch’ Event
When: 8:00 -10:15 a.m. PST, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005
Who: Astronaut Richard Linnehan and NASA Dryden Deputy Director, Steve Schmidt
Where: Von Tobel Middle School, 2436 North Pecos Dr., Las Vegas, Nev.
In addition to the school event during the day, there will also be an evening event to which the public is invited.
What: NASA Explorer School Education Event
When: 6:00-9:00 p.m. PST, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005
Who: Tony Leavitt, NASA Education Specialist
Where: Von Tobel Middle School, 2436 North Pecos Dr., Las Vegas, Nev.
Von Tobel Middle 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.
News media interested in attending the NASA Explorer School daytime event or interviewing Schmidt and Linnehan should contact Laura Lewis at (650) 269-7589 or (650) 604-2162. Visitors are required to sign in at the school’s main office to enter the campus.
Schmidt joined NASA in 1994 and has been involved in numerous advanced flight projects including the X-33, X-38 and the hypersonic X-43. Before taking his current position as NASA Dryden’s deputy director in 2004, Schmidt served on the President’s Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.
Linnehan was selected for the astronaut corps in 1992. He first flew as a mission specialist in 1996 on STS-78, the Life Sciences and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) mission. In 1998, he served as the payload commander on the STS-90 Neurolab mission. In 2002, he was a member of the four-man Extravehicular Activity (EVA) crew on STS-109. Linnehan has logged over 43 days in space.
The NASA Explorer School program is a three-year partnership, 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.
During the partnership, students in the NES program participate in digital conferences with scientists and engineers at NASA. Educators also take the hands-on activities to their students to provide exciting learning experiences in the science, mathematics and technology fields.
For information about the NASA Explorer Schools Program, visit:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov
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