December 8, 2005

Jonas Dino
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. 
Phone: 650/604-5612 or 650/604-9000
Email: jdino@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Eden Hopkins
The Museum of Flight, Seattle, Wash.
Phone: 206/768-7105

RELEASE: 05_66AR

NASA BRINGS SPACE EXPLORATION TO WASHINGTON STUDENTS

Former Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar and education specialists from NASA 
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., will visit Toppenish 
Middle School, Toppenish, Wash., to share NASA's future exploration 
goals and their excitement about the future of space exploration. On 
Dec. 13, 2005, they will participate in a full-day 'launch' event 
celebrating the selection of Toppenish as a 2005 NASA Explorer 
School.

Dunbar, the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of The 
Museum of Flight in Seattle, will discuss the exploration of space 
and how students can participate as the next generation of explorers. 
She will encourage students to pursue studies in math, science and 
technology and careers in aeronautics and space.

After the morning assembly, the NASA Ames educational specialists will 
visit classrooms for additional enrichment activities.

What: NASA Explorer School 'Launch' Event
When: 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. PST, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005
Who: Former Astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar
Where: Toppenish School, 104 Goldendale Avenue, Toppenish, Wash.

What: NASA Explorer School Classroom Enrichment Activities
When: 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. PST, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005
Who: NASA Ames educational specialists
Where: Toppenish School, 104 Goldendale Avenue, Toppenish, Wash.

News media interested in attending the NES events or interviewing 
Dunbar should contact Jonas Dino at 650/207-3280 or 650/604-5612. 
Visitors are required to sign in at each school's main office to 
enter the campus.

Toppenish 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.

Dunbar is a native of Washington, born in raised in the small town of 
Sunnyside. She earned bachelor and masters of science degrees in 
ceramic engineering from the University of Washington, before being 
selected for the astronaut corps in 1981. Dunbar later earned a 
doctoral degree in mechanical/biomedical engineering from the 
University of Houston. As an astronaut, Dunbar has logged more than 
1,208 hours (50 days) in space. She served as a mission specialist on 
STS 61-A in 1985, STS-32 in 1990, and STS-71 in 1995, and was the 
payload commander on STS-50 in 1992, and STS-89 in 1998. Dunbar has 
served as the president and CEO of The Museum of Flight in Seattle 
since 2005.

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 utilize 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


For information about The Museum of Flight, visit:


http://www.museumofflight.org


For information about NASA, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov

	
-end-