Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                         August 26, 
1993
(Phone:  202/358-0883)


RELEASE:  93-153


NASA NAMES HEAD OF MARS OBSERVER INVESTIGATION BOARD
                                      
     NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin today named Dr. Timothy 
Coffey, Director of Research at the Naval Research Laboratory, 
Washington, D.C., to head the review board to investigate the loss 
of contact with the Mars Observer spacecraft.

     Membership of the board will be announced in the very near 
future.

     The board will investigate and determine, to the extent 
possible, the cause of the loss of communications and recommend 
corrective actions to prevent a recurrence in future missions.

     Communication with the Mars Observer spacecraft was lost at 6 
p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday, Aug. 21, three days before 
the craft's capture in orbit around Mars.  The spacecraft was set 
to enter orbit around Mars at approximately 1:30 p.m. PDT on 
Tuesday, Aug. 24.

                              - end -