Life long Gators fan and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough will be in Gainesville for two days spreading NASA’s message about the importance of space research and exploration.

Kimbrough will present a jersey flown on STS-126 Endeavor to the University of Florida Nov. 28 during the University of Florida versus Florida State football game scheduled at 3:30 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. Fans will have a chance to meet Kimbrough and get autographs before the game from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Gator FanFest located outside Gate 2 of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

During his visit to Gainesville, Kimbrough will talk about living and working in space with the kids in the pediatric ward at Shands Children’s Hospital at the University of Florida from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27.

To schedule an interview or for more information about his appearances, contact Sean Wilson at 281-792-7516 or sean.e.wilson@nasa.gov.

Kimbrough joined the NASA team at the Johnson Space Center in September of 2000 and was selected as an astronaut candidate in May 2004. Kimbrough completed his first space flight in 2008 aboard STS-126 Endeavour, logging almost 16 days in space and completing two space walks.

Kimbrough is part of a group of astronauts this year who are visiting NCAA football games to celebrate two NASA milestones: the 10th anniversary of the International Space Station in orbit and the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing during the Apollo 11 mission.

For more about NASA and its programs, visit: www.nasa.gov

For complete biographical information on Kimbrough and other astronaut information, visit:

www.nasa.gov/astronauts