Michael Braukus

Headquarters, Washington, DC September 25, 1997

(Phone: 202/358-1979)

RELEASE: 97-214

PANELS GIVE ASTRONAUT A "GO" FOR LAUNCH TO MIR

NASA has received concurrence from the final panels

reviewing the safety of the Russian Mir space station to
proceed with its plans to exchange U.S. astronauts on the
orbiting outpost.

An independent task force, chaired by Lt. Gen. Thomas P.

Stafford, USAF (Ret.), a former Gemini and Apollo astronaut,
has reaffirmed NASA's internal reviews to proceed with the
Sept. 25 Space Shuttle mission to replace Dr. Michael Foale
with Dr. David Wolf on Mir.

"This careful and thorough review of the Shuttle-Mir

mission analyzed risk, readiness and, foremost, safety," said
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. "We move forward not
only because it is safe, but for the important scientific and
human experience we can gain only from Mir. As we prepare
for the June 1998 launch of the first element of the
International Space Station, nothing can beat the hands-on,
real-time training aboard Mir."

Stafford's group conducts an independent external

assessment before each Space Shuttle mission to Mir. The
panel reviews and issues reports on the preparations for
Shuttle-Mir missions and makes appropriate recommendations on
Shuttle-Mir safety, training, operations, rendezvous and
docking.

NASA also asked Mr. A. Thomas Young to conduct an

additional external assessment. Mr. Young is a member of the
National Academy of Engineering and recently retired
Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin and President and
Chief Operating Officer of Martin Marietta Corp. Mr. Young's
assessment also endorsed the safety process.

In addition to the Stafford panel, NASA conducted two

separate internal reviews. NASA's Shuttle-Mir Program
Office, led by its manager, astronaut Capt. Frank Culbertson,
USN (Ret.), conducted a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) in
which each major Shuttle-Mir system and component critical to
the crew's safety and mission success was reviewed and
determined ready for flight. This concluded with the Shuttle
FRR, a separate comprehensive review of all aspects of
Shuttle mission readiness conducted by NASA's Space Shuttle
Program Office. This review was held on Sept. 12 and
resulted in unanimous approval to proceed with Thursday's
Shuttle launch to Mir.

Astronaut Col. Fred Gregory, USAF (Ret.), Associate

Administrator of the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance,
conducted another NASA review. In this review, Gregory gave
his certification of the Shuttle-Mir flight safety as one of
the key NASA management approvals prior to a Shuttle mission.

Atlantis is scheduled for launch on Sept. 25 at 10:34

p.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

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