Astronaut and 'Terrible Towel' Return to Pittsburgh

November 3, 2009

HOUSTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pittsburgh native Mike Fincke, a colonel in the Air Force, has spent a full year in space throughout the course of his career as a NASA astronaut. Most recently, as commander of Expedition 18, Fincke spent six months on the International Space Station continuing science operations and helping to prepare the orbiting outpost to sustain a six-person crew.

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As a mission specialist on the upcoming STS-134 space shuttle flight, Fincke will add 12 days to his cumulative time in space. The mission will mark the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. It is scheduled to be the second to last flight of the Space Shuttle Program.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will honor Fincke Nov. 15 during pre-game ceremonies at Heinz Field. Fincke will present the team with the "Terrible Towel" that he flew in space during Expedition 18.

During his visit to Pittsburgh, Fincke also will visit his alma mater, Sewickley Academy, on the morning of Friday, Nov. 13. He will spend that afternoon visiting with students in the Avonworth School District.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, Fincke will visit patients at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, and then he will visit Carnegie Science Center from 1 to 3 p.m. to deliver an educational presentation on space exploration and NASA science research.

To schedule an interview or for more information about Fincke's appearances, contact Elizabeth George at 281-483-8618 or elizabeth.george@nasa.gov.

Fincke was born in Pittsburgh. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics as well as a Bachelor of Science in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University; and a Master of Science in Physical Sciences (planetary geology) from the University of Houston, Clear Lake.

He entered the United States Air Force in 1990 and is a distinguished graduate from the United States Air Force ROTC, Squadron Officer School, and Test Pilot School Programs. He has more than 825 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. Fincke was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in 1996.

Fincke joins a team of astronauts this football season who are returning to their hometowns to celebrate two NASA milestones: the 10(th) anniversary of the International Space Station in orbit and the 40(th) 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 Fincke and other astronaut information, visit:

www.nasa.gov/astronauts

SOURCE NASA