Petaluma Honors NASA Astronaut with 'Rex Walheim Day'

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Sep 17, 2013, 03:59 ET

HOUSTON, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut and California native Rex Walheim will be honored by the City of Petaluma, Calif., with his own special day, "Rex Walheim Day" on Sept. 21.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Beginning at 1 p.m. PDT, Saturday, Sept. 21, in downtown Petaluma, a motorcade parade honoring Walheim will proceed from the Sheraton hotel, 745 Baywood Drive, to hanger 18B of the Petaluma Airport, 601 Sky Ranch Road. A media opportunity is scheduled at 1:45 p.m.

The opening ceremony, and presentation by Petaluma Mayor David Glass of a city proclamation officially declaring Sept. 21 as "Rex Walheim Day," begins at 2 p.m.

At 2:30 p.m., Walheim will deliver a presentation showcasing images and video from his last space shuttle mission, STS-135, the final spaceflight of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program, and discuss what lies ahead for America's space agency. His presentation also will include an interactive question-and-answer session with the public. The event is free with general admission.

"It is always a pleasure to return home to California," Walheim said. "I am looking forward to sharing my spaceflight experiences in Petaluma."

Walheim grew up in nearby San Carlos, Calif. He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1996. The veteran of three spaceflights has logged more than 36 days in space, including more than 36 hours during five spacewalks. Currently, Walheim is chief of the Exploration Branch of the Astronaut Office, where he works as the astronaut representative to the Orion Program, America's new human spacecraft for space exploration.

For more information about this appearance, contact Brenda Cabaniss, publicist, Astronaut Appearances Office, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 281-244-8860, or Joe Noriel, president, Petaluma Museum/History Connection at [email protected] or 707-776-7534.

For more information about Walheim, visit:
http://1.usa.gov/jzhYmh

For information about Orion, visit:
http://1.usa.gov/ly2urC

For information about Rex Walheim Day, visit:
http://historyconnection.net/

SOURCE NASA