Space Station Astronaut Joins The San Diego Air & Space Museum's Fifth Annual Space Day

(May 2, 2007) - Bill Shepherd, former NASA astronaut and the first commander of the International Space Station, will be at The San Diego Air & Space Museum's Space Day on May 10th. "Space Day at the Air & Space Museum is an outstanding opportunity to meet people from NASA, aerospace, and other high-tech companies involved in space exploration," said Shepherd, who is also a Museum Board Member. "Space Day is really great for families, and especially for young people, with many interesting and educational activities planned. I look forward to talking with students still in school now and showing them that they can chart a course to do all the important things in space that are yet undone. Space is hard work, but it?s also fun and exciting. The Museum, and Space Day, can be launch pads for this adventure. See you there!"

Shepherd will give a dramatic multimedia presentation of the first mission to the International Space Station, one of the largest joint scientific and technical endeavors ever undertaken. "The Station is in orbit 200 miles above the Earth right now, with 16 nations participating in its 17th Expedition," Shepherd explains. "My presentation takes the viewer through my crew's training and mission preparations in the US and in Russia, our launch on a Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan, and our on-orbit, 4 1/2 month journey to make the Station 'come alive.'"

"Bill Shepherd's presence at the Museum is a rare and special opportunity to meet someone who flew one of the most important space missions ever," said Jim Kidrick, Museum President.

The Museum's Space Day celebration is set to launch on May 10th, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come and engage in fun hands-on demonstrations, giveaways, and activities with local and national space experts. In addition to Shepherd, presenters will include NASA, SDAA (San Diego Astronomy Association), DSN (the Deep Space Network), JPL, The Mars Society, SETI, UCSD EarthKAM, Travel Dynamics SpaceTeam representing Virgin Galactic, the San Diego Space Society and the Planetary Society. As an extra bonus, the Museum's space galleries are open for viewing throughout the event, including flown Apollo spacecraft, moon rocks and space suits.

For more information, and for a special admission discount coupon, please go to the Space Day webpage on the Museum's website: http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/upcoming/spaceday08.html