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