Astronaut Leroy Chiao leaves NASA

December 5, 2005

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111



Report #J05-063

ASTRONAUT LEROY CHIAO LEAVES NASA

Veteran International Space Station commander, spacewalker and three-time
Space Shuttle flier Leroy Chiao has retired from NASA.

Chiao is the first Asian-American and ethnic Chinese to fly in space and
perform a spacewalk. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1990 and flew
his first mission in July 1994. On his second flight, STS-72 in January
1996, Chiao performed two spacewalks to demonstrate tools, hardware and
techniques for space station assembly.

Chiao conducted two more spacewalks during his final shuttle mission, STS-92
in October 2000, to configure the space station's Z1 Truss and Pressurized
Mating Adapter 3.

In October 2004, Chiao visited the station again as commander of a six-month
mission on the orbiting laboratory. He returned to Earth in April. Chiao
also served as NASA Science Officer during that mission, helping to lead 20
scientific experiments. He performed two station-based repair and
installation spacewalks. Chiao holds a doctorate in chemical engineering
from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

"As a veteran of four missions and six spacewalks, Leroy's been a valued
team member and has provided extensive expertise to the nation's space
flight program," said Ken Bowersox, Flight Crew Operations Director. "We
wish him continued success in his future."

For biographical information about Chiao, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/chiao.html

For more about NASA, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info