Conference 7.286::space

From: [email protected] (ROB STEIN, UPI Science Editor)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space
Subject: Plans to send another teacher into space suspended
Date: 5 Apr 91 17:23:25 GMT 
 
	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- NASA has delayed for at least another year
any plans to send a teacher into space to fulfill the hopes of Christa
McAuliffe, who was killed in the 1986 Challenger disaster, officials
said Friday. 

	NASA Administrator Richard Truly decided to suspend for at
least another year the Space Flight Participant Program, which would
allow people other than astronauts and payload specialists to fly on
NASA's space shuttles. 

	The program was suspended following the Jan. 28, 1986,
Challenger disaster, which killed school teacher McAuliffe and her
crewmates and grounded the space shuttle program for nearly three years. 

	``NASA previously has indicated that when it resumes the
program, the first priority will be given to a teacher in space in
fulfillment of space education plans,'' a NASA statement said. 

	NASA officials who met Monday to review the program
``expressed support,'' but ``felt it would be premature'' to resume
the program this year ``because of the continuing backlog of
high-priority missions on the shuttle manifest,'' NASA said. 

	NASA has been unable to launch as many shuttles as planned
because of a series of delays last year and this year due to fuel
leaks and cracks in critical hinges in the shuttle fleet. 

	The shuttle Atlantis blasted into space Friday on the year's
first shuttle mission -- a five-day trip to carry a huge astronomy
satellite into orbit and conduct the first U.S. spacewalk in more than
five years. 

	Space agency officials will review whether to reinstate the
teacher-in-space program early next year, NASA said. 

	Barbara Morgan, 39, a teacher from McCall, Idaho, who was
named McAuliffe's back-up in 1986, would be the next to fly on the
shuttle when the program resumes. 

	``She wants to fly now. She's been ready for five years,''
said Morgan's husband, Clay, by telephone. ``She can't force the
issue.  She hopes to fly as soon as she can.'' 

	McAuliffe, 37, of Concord, N.H., was the first private citizen
to win a seat on a space shuttle. A high school social studies
teacher, she had hoped to beam lessons to classrooms on Earth while
orbiting in the shuttle. 

	Killed with McAuliffe were crewmates Michael Smith, Judith
Resnik, Francis ``Dick'' Scobee, Ellison Onizuka, Ronald McNair, and
Gregory Jarvis. 

From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Teacher-in-Space flight decision delayed until 1992 (Forwarded)
Date: 5 Apr 91 18:56:44 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
 
Mark Hess, Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                        April 5, 1991
(Phone:  202/453-8536)
 
 
RELEASE:  91-50
 
TEACHER-IN-SPACE FLIGHT DECISION DELAYED UNTIL 1992
 
 
	NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly has decided, based on a 
recent policy review, that NASA's Space Flight Participant Program 
will be held in abeyance for another year.  Under this program, NASA 
would provide space flight opportunities for persons outside the 
professional categories of NASA astronauts and payload specialists.  
NASA previously has indicated that when it resumes the program, the 
first priority will be given to a teacher in space in fulfillment of 
space education plans.
 
	Truly made the decison based on the recommendation of a policy 
review committee of senior officals at NASA Headquarters.  Following 
a meeting on April 1, the group expressed support for the Teacher-
in-Space program.  However, the group felt that it would be 
premature to reinitiate activities in 1991 because of the continuing 
backlog of high priority missions on the Shuttle manifest.  A policy 
review on reinstatement of the program will be repeated early next 
year.
 
	Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, was part of the 
crew on the Space Shuttle Challenger which was lost on Jan. 28, 
1986.  Barbara Morgan, a teacher from McCall, Idaho, was named 
NASA's Teacher-in-Space designee in 1986 when she was chosen as the 
next space flight participant to fly on the Shuttle when the program 
resumes.  Morgan has completed initial training and has maintained 
her proficiency.

VNS TECHNOLOGY WATCH:                           [Mike Taylor, VNS Correspondent]
=====================                           [Littleton, MA, USA            ]

                    Soviet Union To Launch A US Teacher

    The Soviet Union has approved the launch of a US teacher to the Mir
    space station in 1993. The agreement was signed between the major
    Soviet manned space design bureau NPO Energia and Aerospace
    Ambassadors, a project of the Aviation Space Education Assn. The
    teacher will be flown free of charge, but sponsors will have to fund
    an array of experiments for the Mir stations to help defray costs.
    
    {AW&ST April 8,1991}

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<><><><><><><><>   VNS Edition : 2321      Monday 13-May-1991   <><><><><><><><>