West Point Honors Army Spacewalker,

Celebrates NASA

HOUSTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bill McArthur was born to become a soldier and eventually his country sent him 220 miles above Earth where he spent half a year living in space on board the International Space Station.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO )

The West Point alumnus and NASA astronaut will be honored by the U.S. Military Academy during its homecoming football game Oct. 3 at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y. Kickoff is set for noon. Fans will have the chance to meet McArthur before the game in the Black Knights Alley at the stadium. Interested media should contact the U.S. Military Academy at 845-938-3512 or 845-938-3303.

From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 2, McArthur will make a special appearance at the Highland Falls Middle School in Highland Falls, N.Y. He will share with students what life as an astronaut is like, answer questions and sign autographs. Interested media should contact Victor Scott at 281-483-4942 or victor.j.scott@nasa.gov.

McArthur graduated from Red Springs High School, Red Springs, N.C., in 1969. He received a Bachelor of Science in applied science and engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 1973 and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1983.

McArthur was selected to become an astronaut in 1990. During the decade that followed, he flew on three shuttle missions that included trips to the Russian Space Station Mir and the International Space Station. More recently he has served as International Space Station Expedition 12 commander and science officer, performing two spacewalks, participating in scientific research experiments and supporting educational events with students from across the globe.

McArthur serves as manager of the Orbiter Project Office for the Space Shuttle Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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

www.nasa.gov/astronauts



Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: NASA


CONTACT: Jenny Knotts, +1-281-792-7671, norma.j.knotts@nasa.gov, or Victor Scott, +1-281-483-4942, victor.j.scott@nasa.gov, both of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston

Web Site: http://www.nasa.gov/