Former NASA Astronaut Roger Crouch will help open the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in Alexandria, Va., May 27 - the first stop on a 2006 traveling tour.

Crouch served as a payload specialist on Space Shuttle missions STS-83 and STS-94 (both in 1997), and has logged over 471 hours in space. He has also been NASA Headquarters' senior scientist for the International Space Station and has served as program scientist on five different Spacelab flights.

NASA is partnering with Jamestown 2007 in a number of signature events to underscore the value of exploration - past and present. The Godspeed Sail, planned for May through August 2006, is the kick-off event for a year-long commemoration recognizing the establishment of the first permanent settlement in the United States.

Crouch will be available for interviews following the opening ceremony at 11 a.m. May 27 in Alexandria. Media interested in covering the event or arranging an interview with Crouch should contact Marny Skora at 757-344-6111 or Lindsay Crouch at 757-870-6912 by 2 p.m. Friday, May 26.

A newly-built replica of the Godspeed, the ship that brought the first English colonists to America, will visit six major east coast ports and serve as a floating museum for thousands of visitors.

The Godspeed will be surrounded by the "Landing Party Festival," a 30,000 square-foot area featuring live music, family entertainment, historical displays and exhibits. An interactive NASA exhibit will connect exploration of the past with exploration of the future. NASA speakers will engage children and the general public in a series of presentations on the challenges of human settlement in hostile environments each afternoon.

NASA's Vision for Space Exploration seeks to return humans to the moon and develop the tools needed to further explore Earth, the moon, Mars and beyond. The investigation, reminiscent of the trek to Jamestown, involves searching for water, accommodating human needs, developing new transportation vehicles and establishing a settlement or space habitat. NASA will engage visitors in Alexandria with an interactive exhibit and educational resources, connecting the past with the future and exploring these challenges.

The week-long events at Alexandria will be followed by similar events in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Newport, R.I.

For information about NASA research and exploration, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

For information about Jamestown 2007 events, visit:

http://www.americas400thanniversary.com

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