From: baalke@zagami.jpl.nasa.gov   
      
   Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs   
   Headquarters, Washington   
   (Phone: 202/358-1898/1600) 	September 3, 2003   
      
   Eileen Hawley   
   Johnson Space Center, Houston   
   (Phone: 281/483-5111)   
      
   RELEASE: 03-280   
      
   ASTRONAUT JOHN M. GRUNSFELD SUCCEEDS SHANNON LUCID AS NASA   
   CHIEF SCIENTIST   
      
        Administrator Sean O'Keefe today announced the selection   
   of veteran astronaut, astronomer, and astrophysicist Dr. John   
   M. Grunsfeld as the agency's new Chief Scientist at NASA   
   Headquarters in Washington. He succeeds Dr. Shannon Lucid,   
   effective immediately.   
      
   Grunsfeld, who played an integral role in two Space Shuttle   
   servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), has   
   studied astronomy and physics throughout his career. As   
   NASA's Chief Scientist, he'll work to ensure the scientific   
   merit of the agency's programs.   
      
   "John has a deep interest in astronautical science and has   
   the hands-on experience to back up what he has taught in the   
   classroom," said Administrator O'Keefe. "With his background   
   in physics and astronomy, John is a natural selection to   
   direct NASA's important space-based science objectives."   
      
   After serving nearly two years in Washington, Lucid will   
   return to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston to assist   
   the agency's Return to Flight efforts. "I asked Shannon to   
   come to Washington to help get our science priorities in   
   order," added Administrator O'Keefe. "Thanks to her   
   leadership, and work with Mary Kicza, our Assistant   
   Administrator for Biological and Physical Research, our   
   research goals have focus and a clear direction. Shannon's   
   insight and candor will be missed in Washington, but I'm sure   
   her colleagues in Houston are looking forward to her return."   
      
   She was selected as Chief Scientist in February 2002. During   
   her tenure, one of Lucid's most important tasks was to work   
   with the offices of Biological and Physical Research, Earth   
   Science, Space Science, and Space Flight to develop a   
   comprehensive plan for prioritization of research on board   
   the International Space Station.   
      
   Lucid also updated NASA's science policy, which had not been   
   done since 1996. The policy stipulates science grants will be   
   peer reviewed, and NASA scientists must compete for research   
   funding.   
      
   She joined NASA in 1978 and became an astronaut in August   
   1979. She has flown as a mission specialist on STS-51G in   
   1985, STS-34 in 1989, STS-43 in 1991 and STS-58 in 1993. In   
   1996, she was flown to Mir during STS-76, where she served as   
   an engineer and conducted numerous life science and physical   
   science experiments during her stay in orbit.   
      
   When Lucid returned to Earth after STS-79, she had traveled   
   more than 75 million miles and spent more than 188 days in   
   orbit, an American record at the time. For her extraordinary   
   efforts, Lucid was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of   
   Honor.   
      
   Grunsfeld is a veteran of four Space Shuttle flights. In1999   
   and 2002 he took part in a total of five successful   
   spacewalks to upgrade Hubble. As a Mission Specialist on STS-   
   103, Grunsfeld helped install new gyroscopes and scientific   
   instruments and upgraded Hubble's systems. During STS-109, he   
   served as Payload Commander, in charge of the spacewalking   
   activities and the HST payload. He and three other crewmates   
   installed a new digital camera, cooling system for the   
   infrared camera, new solar arrays, and power system.   
      
   "Servicing the Hubble Space Telescope is by far and away the   
   most meaningful thing I've ever done. It's helping us answer   
   fundamental questions about our world and our place in the   
   universe," said Grunsfeld. "I was born the same year NASA was   
   established, so we grew up together. I quickly discovered   
   space exploration and science mesh well together and I   
   couldn't be more excited about this opportunity."   
      
   A native of Chicago, Grunsfeld received a bachelor's degree   
   in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in   
   1980. He earned a maters degree and a doctorate in physics   
   from the University of Chicago in 1984 and 1988,   
   respectively.   
      
   Grunsfeld was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1992. His first   
   flight assignment came in 1995 on board the Space Shuttle   
   Endeavour on STS-67. In 1997, Grunsfeld served as flight   
   engineer for the Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-81 and a   
   10-day mission to Russia's Mir space station. He has logged   
   over 45 days in space, including 37 hours and 32 minutes   
   working outside the Space Shuttle.   
      
   Grunsfeld has been honored with the W.D. Grainger Fellow in   
   Experimental Physics and was awarded the NASA Distinguished   
   Service Medal earlier this year. He was awarded NASA Space   
   Flight Medals in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2002, and earned the   
   agency's Exceptional Service Medal in 1997, 1998, and 2000.   
      
   Additional information is available on the Internet at   
   www.nasa.gov and spaceflight.nasa.gov.   
      
   -end-   
      
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