Huntsville Air Show 2008 June 27, 2008

WHAT: Former NASA astronaut Jim Halsell will join Marshall Space Flight Center educators, engineers and managers at the 2008 Huntsville Air Show June 28-29. As jets soar over Huntsville International Airport, Halsell and the Marshall Center team will give visitors new insight into America's space program -- past, present and future.

Halsell will present video of his space shuttle missions and talk about his experiences as a five-time NASA shuttle commander. Marshall Center team members will share the latest news and milestones critical to Marshall's work on the Ares rockets, which will carry a new generation of explorers to space, to the moon and beyond in coming decades. They'll also share artifacts, models and highlights of past NASA missions that laid the groundwork for new journeys of discovery, and will provide space-themed activities to challenge and inspire young visitors.

Also on hand will be 10 summer interns -- high school seniors from Alabama and Iowa -- working at Marshall as part of NASA's "INSPIRE" project: the Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience. INSPIRE is an eight-week NASA experience that encourages students to seek careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields -- and to pass on the same interest and excitement to younger children. The project runs through July 25. For more information about the program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/programs/INSPIRE_Project.html

WHO: Former astronaut Jim Halsell, now vice president and program manager for the Ares I Upper Stage team at ATK Launch Systems in Huntsville; and 10 high school seniors participating this summer in NASA's INSPIRE project as interns at the Marshall Center.

WHEN:
-- Halsell presentations: 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., June 28
-- Halsell media availability: 11 a.m., June 28
-- Kids' activities; INSPIRE team media availability: 1-2 p.m., June 28
-- Marshall Center exhibits open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 28-29

WHERE: Huntsville International Airport, southernmost exhibitors' area near concessions

TO ATTEND: News media interested in interviewing former astronaut Jim Halsell, the INSPIRE students or Marshall Center subject experts in the air show exhibit area should contact Janet Anderson at the Marshall Center's Public & Employee Communications Office at 256-544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. CDT, Friday, June 27. For more information about the Huntsville Air Show, contact air show public relations manager Laura Gipson at 256-679-7162.

Courtesy: SpaceRef, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.rss.html?pid=25747

Official Website: http://www.hsvairport.org/airshow/