NASA astronauts Lisa Nowak (Cmdr., U.S. Navy) and
Stephanie Wilson are joining the crew of the second Space
Shuttle Return to Flight mission (STS-121) planned for launch
in 2005.
They join the other STS-121 crewmembers — Commander Steven
Lindsey (Col., USAF), Pilot Mark Kelly (Cmdr., U.S. Navy),
Mission Specialists Michael Fossum and Piers Sellers.
STS-121 will deliver supplies and research equipment to the
International Space Station. It was added to the schedule as
the next mission after Return to Flight, which is designated
STS-114. The STS-121 crew will continue testing new flight
procedures developed to increase the Shuttle’s safety
following the Columbia accident on Feb. 1, 2003.
Selected as astronauts in 1996, this will be the first space
flight for Nowak and Wilson. Both astronauts had previously
been assigned to future Shuttle missions — Nowak on STS-118
and Wilson on STS-120. When STS-121 was added to the
schedule, Nowak’s and Wilson’s training and experience
provided an opportunity to move them up to an earlier flight.
Nowak has performed technical duties in the Astronaut Office
Operations Planning Branch and served as a CAPCOM, or
spacecraft communicator, in Mission Control. As CAPCOM, she
served as the primary communicator with orbiting Space
Station crews. Wilson has performed technical duties in the
Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch and also has
served as a CAPCOM in Mission Control. For biographical
information for Nowak and Wilson, visit:
For information about NASA, Return to Flight, and agency
programs, visit:
