NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe today selected space
veteran and NASA astronaut Dr. Shannon W. Lucid as the
agency’s next Chief Scientist.

The only woman to be awarded the Congressional Space Medal of
Honor by the President of the United States, Lucid currently
supports Space Shuttle and International Space Station
missions as spacecraft communicator.

Lucid will be responsible for ensuring the scientific merit
of the agency’s programs. She will report for duty as soon as
she fills her responsibilities as Capcom for STS-109.

“Dr. Lucid brings impressive credentials in the fields
chemistry and biochemistry research to NASA Headquarters,”
said Administrator O’Keefe. “The Chief Scientist has a
tremendous responsibility to develop and communicate the
agency’s science and research objectives to the outside
world. What better selection than a NASA scientist and
astronaut with extensive experience living and working in the
harsh environment of space?”

She replaces Dr. Kathie Olsen, whom the President has
announced his intention to nominate as the Associate
Administrator for Science in the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the
President.

“Dr. Olsen has been a vital and valuable member of the senior
management team since she was named Chief Scientist in May
1999,” added Administrator O’Keeferenc2She is highly motivated
and her expertise will be missed. The Administration and OSTP
are getting a top-notch researcher and scientist.”

A veteran of five Space Shuttle flights, Lucid was among the
first six women ever selected to become an astronaut and she
currently holds the United States single mission flight
endurance record as a result of her mission to the Russian
space station Mir in 1996.

She was selected by NASA in 1978 and became an astronaut in
August 1979. Lucid 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 during STS-79, she had traveled
more than 75 million miles and spent more than 188 days in
orbit.

Additional information about Lucid is available on the
Internet at:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bios/htmlbios/lucid.html