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NASA Astronaut Biographies- S


NAME: Margaret Rhea Seddon (M.D.)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born November 8, 1947, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her
father, Mr. Edward C. Seddon, resides in Murfreesboro; her mother, Mrs. Clayton
Dann Seddon, is deceased.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Blond hair; blue eyes; height: 5 feet 3 inches; weight:
120 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Central High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in
1965; received a bachelor of arts degree in Physiology from the University of
California, Berkeley, in 1970; and a doctorate of Medicine from the University
of Tennessee, College of Medicine in 1973.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to Astronaut Robert L. Gibson of Cooperstown, New
York. His mother, Mrs. Paul A. Gibson, resides in Westminster, California.

CHILDREN: Paul Seddon Gibson, July 26, 1982, Edward Dann Gibson, March 27,
1989.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the 99's (International Women Pilots Association),
the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Harris County Medical
Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Women's
Association.

EXPERIENCE: After medical school, Dr. Seddon completed a surgical internship
and 3 years of a general surgery residency in Memphis with a particular
interest in surgical nutrition. Between the period of her internship and
residency, she served as an emergency room physician at a number of emergency
rooms in Mississippi and Tennessee hospitals and now serves in this capacity in
the Houston area in her spare time. Dr. Seddon has also performed clinical
research into the effects of radiation therapy on nutrition in cancer patients.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978,
Dr. Seddon became an astronaut in August 1979.

Dr. Seddon's work at NASA has been in a variety of areas, including Orbiter and
payload software, Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, Flight Data File,
Shuttle medical kit and checklist, launch and landing rescue helicopter
physician, support crew member for STS-6, crew equipment, membership on NASA's
Aerospace Medical Advisory Committee, and Technical Assistant to the Director
of Flight Crew Operations.

Dr. Seddon made her first space flight aboard STS-51D, the fourth flight of
Discovery and the sixteenth Shuttle mission. Launch was from Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, on April 12, 1985. The crew deployed ANIK-C for Telesat of
Canada, and Syncom IV-3 for the U.S. Navy. A malfunction in the Syncom
spacecraft resulted in the first unscheduled EVA, rendezvous and proximity
operations for the Space Shuttle in an attempt to activate the satellite using
the Remote Manipulator System. Additionally, the STS-51D crew conducted
several medical experiments, activated two Getaway Specials, and filmed
experiments with toys in space. After 168 hours of orbital operations, and 109
orbits of the earth, Discovery landed on Runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center
on April 19, 1985.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Dr. Seddon is in flight training as a mission specialist on
the crew of STS-40, Spacelab Life Sciences 1, scheduled for launch on the
Orbiter Columbia in 1990. This will be the first ever space flight dedicated
entirely to the life sciences. Crew members will conduct more than two dozen
experiments to study the effects of microgravity environment on living
organisms.

APRIL 1990



NAME: Brewster H. Shaw, Jr. (Colonel, USAF)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born May 16, 1945, in Cass City, Michigan. His parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Brewster H. Shaw, Sr., reside in Cass City.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown hair; blue eyes; height: 5 feet 8 inches; weight:
140 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Cass City High School, Cass City, Michigan, in 1963;
received bachelor and master of science degrees in Engineering Mechanics from
the University of Wisconsin (Madison) in 1968 and 1969, respectively.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Kathleen Ann Mueller of Madison,
Wisconsin. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mueller, reside in Madison.

CHILDREN: Brewster Hopkinson III, August 6, 1970; Jessica Hollis, February 3,
1975; Brandon Robert, August 15, 1976.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys flying, running, skiing, sailing, hunting,
and camping.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Air Force
Distinguished Flying Cross with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation
Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat
Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air
Force Longevity Service Award, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic
of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Named a
Distinguished Graduate from Officer Training School and the USAF Test Pilot
School. Recipient of undergraduate pilot training Commanders Trophy,
Outstanding Flying Trophy, Outstanding Academic Trophy, Best T-38 Pilot Award,
and Top Formation Pilot Award; F-100 Barry Goldwater Top Gun Award and Top
Academic Student, and F-4 Outstanding Academic Student Award and Top Gun
Award. Recipient of Group Achievement Award 1981 Launch & Landing Operations
Team, NASA Space Flight Medals (1983, 1985, 1989), American Astronautical
Society 1983 Flight Achievement Award STS-9 (Spacelab 1), Veterans of Foreign
Wars 1984 National Space Award STS-9, NASA Group Achievement Award 61-B
EASE/ACCESS (1986), NASA-JSC Aviation Safety Award (1987), NASA Special
Achievement Award (1988), NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1988).

EXPERIENCE: Shaw entered the Air Force in 1969 after completing Officer
Training School and attended undergraduate pilot training at Craig Air Force
Base, Alabama. He received his wings in 1970 and was then assigned to the
F-100 Replacement Training Unit at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. In March 1971,
he was assigned as an F-100 combat fighter pilot to the 352d Tactical Fighter
Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He returned to the United
States in August 1971 for assignment to the F-4 Replacement Training Unit at
George Air Force Base, California. He was subsequently sent to the 25th
Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, where he flew combat
missions as an F-4 fighter pilot. In April 1973, he reported to the 20th
Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, George Air Force Base, California, for F-4
instructor duties. Shaw attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air
Force Base, California, from July 1975 to 1976.

Following completion of this training, he remained at Edwards as an operational
test pilot with the 6512th Test Squadron (Test Operations). He served as an
instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School from August 1977 to July 1978.

He has logged more than 5,000 hours flying time in over 30 types of aircraft --
including 644 hours of combat in F-100 and F-4 aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Shaw was selected as an astronaut in January 1978. His
technical assignments have included support crew and Entry CAPCOM for STS-3 and
STS-4, staff member of the Roger's Presidential Commission investigating the
STS-51L Challenger accident, head of the Orbiter return to flight team
responsible for implementing safety modifications to the Orbiter fleet, and
Astronaut Office Liaison with the Department of Defense (DOD) for classified
payloads. He has flown on three Shuttle mission, STS-9, SSTS-61B and STS-28.

On his first mission, Shaw was pilot on STS-9/Spacelab-1 which launched from
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 28, 1983. The crew on board the
Orbiter Columbia included spacecraft commander, John Young; mission
specialists, Owen Garriott and Robert Parker; and payload specialists, Byron
Lichtenberg and Ulf Merbold. This six-man crew was the largest yet to fly
aboard a single spacecraft, the first international Shuttle crew, and the first
to carry payload specialists. During this maiden flight of the European Space
Agency (ESA)-developed laboratory, the crew conducted more than seventy
multi-disciplinary scientific and technical investigations in the fields of
life sciences, atmospheric physics and earth observations, astronomy and solar
physics, space plasma physics, and materials processing. After 10-days of
Spacelab hardware verification and around-the-clock scientific operations,
Columbia and its laboratory cargo (the heaviest payload to be returned to earth
in the Shuttle Orbiter's cargo bay) landed on the dry lakebed at Edwards Air
Force Base, California, on December 8, 1983.

He was spacecraft commander on STS-61B which launched at night from Kennedy
Space Center, Florida, on November 26, 1985. On board the Orbiter Atlantis,
his crew included the pilot, Bryan O'Connor, mission specialists, Mary Cleave,
Jerry Ross and Woody Spring, as well as payload specialists, Rodolfo Neri Vela
(Mexico), and Charles Walker (McDonnell Douglas). During the mission the crew
deployed the MORELOS-B, AUSSAT II, and SATCOM K-2 communications satellites,
conducted 2 six hour space walks to demonstrate Space Station construction
techniques with the EASE/ACCESS experiments, operated the Continuous Flow
Electrophoresis (CFES) experiment for McDonnell Douglas and a Getaway Special
(GAS) container for Telesat, Canada, conducted several Mexican Payload
Specialist Experiments for the Mexican Government, and tested the Orbiter
Experiments Digital Autopilot (OEX DAP). This was the heaviest payload weight
carried to orbit by the Space Shuttle to date. After completing 108 orbits of
the Earth in 165 hours, Shaw landed Atlantis on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force
Base, California, on December 3, 1985.

As spacecraft commander of STS-28, Shaw and his crew launched from Kennedy
Space Center, Florida, on August 8, 1989. The crew on board Shuttle Orbiter
Columbia included the pilot, Dick Richards, and three mission specialists, Jim
Adamson, David Leestma, and Mark Brown. The mission carried Department of
Defense payloads and a number of secondary payloads. After 80 orbits of the
earth, this five day mission concluded with a dry lakebed landing on Runway 17
at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on August 13, 1989.

With the completion of this flight Col. Shaw logged a total of 534 hours in
space.

Currently Deputy Director, Space Shuttle Operations, NASA Headquarters,
stationed at NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

NOVEMBER, 1989



NAME: William M. Shepherd (Captain, USN)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born July 26, 1949, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. His mother,
Mrs. Barbara Shepherd, resides in Bethesda, Maryland. His father, Mr. George
R. Shepherd, is deceased.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Blond hair; blue eyes; height: 5 feet 10 inches; weight:
180 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Arcadia High School, Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1967;
received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S.
Naval Academy in 1971, and the degrees of Ocean Engineer and master of science
in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
1978.

MARITAL STATUS: Single.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys sailing, swimming, and working in his garage.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and AIAA.

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service
Commendation Medal.

EXPERIENCE: Shepherd was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1971. He
completed a post-graduate program at MIT in 1978, and has served with the
Navy's Underwater Demolition Team Eleven, SEAL Teams ONE and TWO, and Special
Boat Unit TWENTY.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in May 1984. He has flown two missions --
STS-27 in 1988, and STS-41 in 1990.

On his first flight, Shepherd was a mission specialist aboard the Orbiter
Atlantis on STS-27, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on
December 2, 1988. The mission lasted 105 hours and carried Department of
Defense and secondary payloads.

More recently, Shepherd was a mission specialist on STS-41. The five man crew
launched on October 6 aboard the Space Shuttle DISCOVERY and landed on October
10, 1990. During 66 orbits of the earth, the STS-41 crew successfully deployed
the Ulysses spacecraft, starting it on a four year journey (via Jupiter) to
investigate the polar regions of the Sun, as well as conducting numerous other
middeck experiments.

With the completion of his second space mission, Shepherd has logged 203 hours
in space.

NOVEMBER 1990



NAME: Loren J. Shriver (Colonel, USAF)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born September 23, 1944, in Jefferson, Iowa, but
considers Paton, Iowa to be his hometown. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Darrel R.
Shriver, still reside in Paton, Iowa.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Blond hair; blue eyes; height: 5 feet 10 inches; weight:
160 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Paton Consolidated High School, Paton, Iowa, in
1962; received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from
the United States Air Force Academy in 1967 and a master of science degree in
Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1968.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Susan Diane Hane of Paton, Iowa. Her
father is deceased; her mother resides near Jefferson, Iowa.

CHILDREN: Camilla Marie, July 15, 1969; Melinda Sue, September 27, 1970; Jered
Loren, December 19, 1973; Rebecca Hane, January 24, 1977.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: His hobbies are softball, running and exercising,
camping, backpacking, and sailboarding.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Air
Force Association; life member of the Air Force Academy Association of
Graduates and the Air Force Academy Athletic Association; and member of the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

SPECIAL HONORS: Received the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Air Force
Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, 2 Air Force
Outstanding Unit Awards, and the National Defense Service Medal; named High
School Class Valedictorian, a USAF Academy Distinguished Graduate, a USAF Pilot
Training Distinguished Graduate, a Squadron Officer's School Distinguished
Graduate, and the USAF Test Pilot School Distinguished Graduate; recipient of
the F-4 Combat Crew Training Academic Award.

EXPERIENCE: Shriver was commissioned in 1967 upon graduation from the USAF
Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and subsequently attended graduate
school for one year at Purdue University. From 1969 to 1973, he served as a
T-38 academic instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. He completed
F-4 combat crew training at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, in 1973, and was
then assigned to an overseas tour in Thailand until October 1974. In 1975, he
attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and
upon completion of this training was assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron at
Edwards. He has completed Air Force Squadron Officer's School and the Air
Command and Staff College correspondence course of study.

In 1976, Shriver began serving as a test pilot for the F-15 Joint Test Force at
Edwards Air Force Base. He has participated in the Air Force development test
and evaluation of the F-15 fighter aircraft and has participated in or
conducted several follow-on systems tests on the same aircraft. He also took
part in the Air Force development test and evaluation of the T-38 lead-in
fighter. Shriver has been contributing author on six technical reports for
these various programs.

He has flown in 30 different types of single- and multi-engine civilian and
military fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft, has logged over 5,000 hours in jet
aircraft, and holds commercial pilot and private glider ratings.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Shriver was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in
January 1978. In August 1979, he completed a one year training and evaluation
period, making him eligible for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle
flight crews. In September of 1982 he was selected as pilot for the first
Department of Defense mission, STS-10. That mission was later canceled.

Shriver was pilot of STS-51C which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida
on January 24, 1985. He was accompanied by Captain Thomas K. Mattingly
(spacecraft commander), Colonel James F. Buchli and Lieutenant Colonel Ellison
S. Onizuka (mission specialists), and Lieutenant Colonel Gary E. Payton (DOD
payload specialist). STS-51C performed its DOD mission which included
deployment of a modified Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) vehicle from the Space
Shuttle Discovery. Landing occurred on January 27, 1985, after slightly more
than 3 days on orbit.

More recently, Shriver was spacecraft commander of STS-31 crew, which launched
on April 24, 1990, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Crew members
aboard Space Shuttle Discovery included Col. Charles F. Bolden (pilot), and
Capt. Bruce McCandless, Dr. Steven A. Hawley, and Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan
(mission specialists). During this 5 day mission, crew members deployed the
Hubble Space Telescope, and conducted a variety of middeck experiments
involving the study of protein crystal growth, polymer membrane processing, and
the effects of weightlessness and magnetic fields on an ion arc. They also
operated a variety of cameras, including both the IMAX in cabin and cargo bay
cameras, for earth observations from their record setting altitude of 380
miles. Following 76 orbits of the earth in 121 hours, STS-31 Discovery landed
at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 29, 1990.

With the completion of his second mission, Shriver has logged over 194 hours in
space.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: Colonel Shriver is assigned to command the crew of
STS-46. This seven day mission will feature the deployment of the European
Retrievable Carrier (EURECA), an ESA-sponsored free-flying science platform,
and will also demonstrate the Tethered Satellite System (TSS), a joint project
between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. STS-46 is scheduled for launch in
early 1992.

JANUARY 1991



NAME: Sherwood C. (Woody) Spring (Colonel, USA)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born September 3, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, but
considers Harmony, Rhode Island, to be his hometown. His parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Edward C. Spring, reside in Stuart, Florida.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light brown hair; blue eyes; height: 5 feet 7 inches;
weight: 140 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Ponaganset High School, Chepachet, Rhode Island, in
1963; received a bachelor of science degree in General Engineering from the
United States Military Academy in 1967 and a master of science degree in
Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1974. Graduated from
the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School in 1976.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former Collette D. Cooper of Tucson, Arizona.
Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Cooper, reside in Tucson.

CHILDREN: Sarah Elizabeth, July 18, 1981; Justin Edward, March 11, 1984.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys flying, scuba diving, running, skiing, and
carpentry.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the United
States Army Association; and lifetime member of the Association of Graduates of
the United States Military Academy.

SPECIAL HONORS: 1 Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Army Bronze Stars, 1 Army
Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Army Commendations, 9 Army Air Medals, a Vietnam
Cross of Gallantry with Palm, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service
Medals, and NASA Space Flight Medal. Recipient, in 1986, of two honorary
doctorate degrees; Doctor of Science, and Doctor of Humane Letters.

EXPERIENCE: After graduation from West Point in 1967, Spring spent an
additional year attending various military schools including microwave and
radio communications, airborne and ranger training. Then he served two tours
of duty in Vietnam. The first was from 1968 to 1969 with the 101st Airborne
Division. The second tour, 1970-1971, came immediately after flight school and
was served as a helicopter pilot with the 1st Cavalry Division. Upon return, he
received fixed wing training en route to a master's degree program with the
University of Arizona in 1974. After a short tour at Edwards Air Force Base,
California, as a flight test engineer, he attended the Navy Test Pilot School
at Patuxent River, Maryland. He then returned to the Army's Flight Test
Facility at Edwards AFB to complete 4 years as an experimental test pilot. He
was serving as operations officer for the 19th Aviation Battalion in Korea,
when advised of his selection by NASA.

He has military and civilian experience in 25 types of airplanes and
helicopters and has logged more than 3,500 hours flying time -- including over
1,500 hours in jet aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Spring was selected as an astronaut in May 1980. His
technical assignments have included software verification at the Shuttle
Avionics Integration Laboratory and Flight Simulation Laboratory; vehicle and
satellite integration at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, for STS-5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9; Astronaut Office EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) expert; and Space
Station construction, EVA maintenance, and design..

Spring served as a mission specialist on STS 61-B which flew November 26 thru
December 3, 1985. During that mission he was responsible for launching three
communication satellites and performed two space walks or Extravehicular
Activities (EVA's). The EVA's, which totaled more than 12 hours, investigated
Space Station construction techniques, large structure manipulation while on
the end of the remote arm, and a time and motion study for comparison between
Earth training and Space performance.

With the completion of this flight he logged a total of 165 hours in space.

Currently Director, U.S. Army Space Program Office, Fairfax, Virginia.

NOVEMBER, 1989



NAME: Robert C. Springer (Colonel, USMC)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born May 21, 1942, in St Louis, Missouri, but considers
Ashland, Ohio, to be his hometown. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Springer,
reside in Ashland.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown hair; blue eyes; height: 6 feet 1/2 inch; weight:
170 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Ashland High School, Ashland, Ohio, in 1960;
received a bachelor of science degree in Naval Science from the United States
Naval Academy in 1964 and a master of science in Operations Research and
Systems Analysis from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1971.

MARITAL STATUS: Married to the former "Molly" (Mary) M. McCoy of Parma, Ohio.
Her father, Mr. James McCoy, resides in Seabrook, Texas; her mother is
deceased.

CHILDREN: Chad, August 12, 1970; Kira, February 12, 1972; and Derek, December
1, 1976.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: He enjoys long-distance running, tennis, golf, and
windsurfing.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Marine
Corps Aviation Association, and the United States Naval Academy Alumni
Association; past member of the Operations Research Society and the Military
Operations Research Society; and named one of the Jaycee's Outstanding Young
Men in America in 1977.

SPECIAL HONORS: The Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal
(21st award), the Navy Commendation Medal (2d award), Navy Achievement Medal,
Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, and
various Vietnam Campaign ribbons and service awards.

EXPERIENCE: Springer received a commission in the United States Marine Corps
following graduation from Annapolis in 1964. He attended the Marine Corps
Basic School at Quantico, Virginia, before reporting to the Navy Air Training
Command for flight training at Pensacola, Florida, and Beeville, Texas. Upon
receiving his aviator wings in August 1966, he was assigned to VMFA-513 at the
Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he flew F-4
aircraft. He was subsequently assigned to VMFA-115 at Chu Lai in the Republic
of Vietnam, where he flew F-4s and completed 300 combat missions. In June
1968, he served as an advisor to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps in Vietnam
and flew 250 combat missions in O1 "Bird Dogs" and UH1 "Huey" helicopters.
Springer returned to the United States later that year to attend the U.S. Naval
Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and in March 1971, he reported to
the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing at El Toro, California, and an assignment as wing
operations analysis officer. He flew UH1E "Huey's" in 1972 while with HML-267
at Camp Pendleton, California, and then went to Okinawa to fly " Huey's" with
HML-367, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Springer flew F-4 "Phantoms" as an aircraft
maintenance officer with VMFA-451 in Beaufort, South Carolina, and also
attended Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun). A 1975 graduate of the U.S.
Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, he served as Head of the
Ordnance Systems Branch and as a test pilot for more than 20 different types of
fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft. In this capacity he performed the first
flights in the AHIT helicopter. He graduated from the Armed Forces Staff
College in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1978, and, assigned to Headquarters Fleet
Marine Force, Atlantic, assumed responsibility for joint operational planning
for Marine Forces in NATO and the Mid-East. He was serving as aide-de-camp for
the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, when advised of his
selection by NASA.

He has logged more than 4,500 hours flying time -- including 3,500 hours in jet
aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in May 1980,
Springer became an astronaut in August 1981. His technical assignments have
included support crew for STS-3, concept development studies for the Space
Operations Center, and the coordination of various aspects of the final
development of the Remote Manipulator System for operational use. He worked in
the Mission Control Center as Orbit CAPCOM for 7 flights in 1984 and 1985.

Springer was responsible for astronaut office coordination of Design
Requirements Reviews (DRR) and Design Certification Reviews (DCR). These
review efforts encompassed the total recertification and reverification of the
NSTS prior to STS-26 return to flight status.

Springer was a mission specialist on the crew of STS-29, which launched from
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, aboard the Orbiter Discovery, on March 13,
1989. During 80 orbits of the earth on this highly successful five day
mission, the crew deployed a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, and performed
numerous secondary experiments, including a Space Station "heat pipe" radiator
experiment, two student experiments, a protein crystal growth experiment, and a
chromosome and plant cell division experiment. In addition, the crew took over
4,000 photographs of the earth using several types of cameras, including the
IMAX 70 mm movie camera. Mission duration was 119 hours and concluded with a
landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on March 18, 1989.

More recently Springer served as a mission specialist on STS-38. The five man
crew launched at night from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 15,
1990. During the five day mission crew members conducted Department of Defense
operations. After 80 orbits of the earth, in the first Shuttle recovery in
Florida since 1985, Space Shuttle Atlantis and her crew landed back at the
Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1990. In completing his second mission,
Springer has logged over 237 hours in space.

NOVEMBER 1990



NAME: Kathryn D. Sullivan (Ph.D.)
NASA Astronaut

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born October 3, 1951, in Paterson, New Jersey, but
considers Woodland Hills, California to be her hometown. Her father, Donald P.
Sullivan, resides in Cupertino, California; her mother, Barbara K. Sullivan, is
deceased.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown hair; green eyes; height: 5 feet 6 inches; weight:
150 pounds.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Taft High School, Woodland Hills, California, in
1969; received a bachelor of science degree in Earth Sciences from the
University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1973, and a Doctorate in Geology from
Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) in 1978. Awarded an Honorary
Doctorate by Dalhousie in 1985.

MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS: She enjoys flying, squash, bicycling, backpacking, and
reading in her spare time.

ORGANIZATIONS: Appointed to the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel in
1988. In March 1985, Dr. Sullivan was appointed, by President Reagan, to the
National Commission on Space. The Commission's report, entitled "Pioneering
the Space Frontier," laid out goals for U.S. civilian space activities over the
next 25 years. She is also a member of the Geological Society of America, the
American Geophysical Union, the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics, the Explorers Club, the Society of Woman Geographers, and the
Sierra Club.

SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1988); Ten Outstanding Young
People of the World Award, Jaycees International (1987); Ten Outstanding Young
Americans Award, U.S. Jaycees (1987); National Air and Space Museum Trophy,
Smithsonian Institution (1985); NASA Space Flight Medal (1984).

EXPERIENCE: Much of Dr. Sullivan's efforts prior to joining NASA have been
concentrated in academic study and research. She was an earth sciences major
at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and spent 1971-1972 as an exchange
student at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her bachelor's degree (with
honors) was awarded in 1973.

Her doctoral studies at Dalhousie University included participation in a
variety of oceanographic expeditions, under the auspices of the U.S. Geological
Survey, Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute, and the Bedford Institute. Her
research included the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Newfoundland Basin, and fault
zones off the Southern California Coast. She taught undergraduate tutorials at
Dalhousie University during 1973-1975 and worked for Geological Survey of
Canada as a research student during the summer of 1975. The subject of her
doctoral thesis was the evolution of the continental margin and deep sea floor
east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Dr. Sullivan is an Oceanography Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, currently
holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

She is a private pilot, rated in powered and glider aircraft.

In 1985, Dr. Sullivan became an Adjunct Professor of Geology at Rice
University, Houston, Texas.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in January 1978, Dr. Sullivan became an
astronaut in August 1979. Her Shuttle support assignments have included:
software development for STS-1 and 2; lead chase photographer for STS-2 launch
and landing; Orbiter and cargo test, checkout and launch support at Kennedy
Space Center, Florida, for STS-3 through 6; EVA and spacesuit support crew for
STS-7 and STS-8. Dr. Sullivan worked as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in
support of STS-26, STS-27, and STS-29. A two flight veteran, Dr. Sullivan
served as a mission specialist on STS-41G, October 5-13, 1984, and, more
recently, on STS-31, April 24-29, 1990.

Since joining NASA, Dr. Sullivan's research interests have focused on remote
sensing and planetary geology. She qualified as a systems engineer operator in
NASA's WB-57F high-altitude research aircraft in 1978 and has participated in
several remote sensing projects in Alaska. She was a Co-Investigator on the
Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) experiment, which she flew on mission STS-41G,
and is also working on SIR-C.

Her first mission, STS-41G, launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on
October 5, 1984, carrying the largest crew to fly to date. During their 8-day
mission, the crew deployed the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, conducted
scientific observations of the earth with the OSTA-3 pallet (including the
SIR-B radar, FILE, and MAPS experiments) and Large Format Camera (LFC),
conducted a satellite refueling demonstration using hydrazine fuel with the
Orbital Refueling System (ORS), and conducted numerous in-cabin experiments as
well as activating eight Getaway Special canisters. Dr. Sullivan and Commander
Leestma also successfully conducted a 3-1/2 hour Extravehicular Activity (EVA)
to demonstrate the feasibility of actual satellite refueling, making her the
first U.S. woman to perform an EVA. STS-41G completed 132 orbits of the earth
in 197.5 hours, before landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 13,
1984.

More recently, Dr. Sullivan served on the crew of STS-31, which launched from
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 24, 1990. During this 5 day mission,
crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the Hubble Space
Telescope, and conducted a variety of middeck experiments involving the study
of protein crystal growth, polymer membrane processing, and the effects of
weightlessness and magnetic fields on an ion arc. They also operated a variety
of cameras, including both the IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cameras, for earth
observations from their record setting altitude of 380 miles. Following 76
orbits of the earth in 121 hours, STS-31 Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force
Base, California, on April 29, 1990.

With the completion of her second mission, Dr. Sullivan has logged a total of
318.5 hours in space.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: In Sept. 1989, Dr. Sullivan was selected as a mission
specialist and payload commander on the crew of STS-45. During this nine day
mission, the crew of Columbia will conduct atmospheric studies in order to
better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth's climate and
environment. STS-45 is scheduled for launch in the Spring of 1991.

MAY 1990


 
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