Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                    
June 16, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1776)

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  703/483-5111)

RELEASE:  93-114

ASTRONAUT MARK BROWN TO JOIN GENERAL RESEARCH CORP.

   Col. Mark N. Brown will leave NASA in July and will retire from 
the U.S. Air Force to head up the Space Division Office of General 
Research Corp., Dayton, Ohio.

   "It has been a privilege to work with the folks at NASA as both 
an engineer and astronaut.  Each day has offered new challenges, 
and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the fine people across 
the agency," Brown said.

   Brown joined the Johnson Space Center, Houston, in 1980, 
working in the Flight Activities Section of the Mission Operations 
Directorate.  He was selected to become an astronaut in 1984.  

   Brown served as a mission specialist on STS-28, a Department of 
Defense mission in August 1989, and STS-48, the Upper Atmosphere 
Research Satellite mission in September 1991.  

   Since STS-48 in 1991, Brown served as Deputy Chief of Flight 
Crew Operations Directorate's Station-Exploration Office.  Most 
recently Brown has been a member of the space station redesign 
team working on Option C, providing crew expertise to the planning 
process.

   "Mark has made significant contributions to the Shuttle program 
and to the Space Station program in addition to his 
accomplishments as an astronaut.  We'll miss him and wish him 
success in his new career," Director of Flight Crew Operations 
David C. Leestma said.

                              -end-