Edward Campion
Headquarters, Washington, DC                                   
                                             November 3, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1778)

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone:  713/483-5111)

RELEASE: 94-183

ASTRONAUTS BLAHA AND LUCID TO TRAIN FOR FLIGHT ON MIR

     NASA astronauts John E. Blaha and Shannon W. Lucid, Ph.D.,
have been selected to train for the second of at least four
scheduled astronaut stays aboard the Russian Space Station Mir . 
The two veteran astronauts will begin training in Star City,
Russia, in February 1995.

     These assignments continue the U.S./Russia human space
flightcooperation, which consists of a three-phased program. 

      Phase one includes seven to ten Space Shuttle-Mir missions
between 1995 and 1997, including rendezvous, docking and crew
transfers.  The Space Shuttle will assist with crew exchange,
resupply and payload activities for Mir.  A Russian cosmonaut
will fly on STS-63 in February 1995.  Four or more U.S. astronaut
stays aboard Mir are planned, totaling nearly two years of
on-orbit time.

     Phase two is the joint development of the core International
Space Station.  Phase three is the expansion of the Space Station
to include all of the international partners.

     Blaha, 52, (Colonel, USAF, Ret.) has flown on four Shuttle
missions, STS-29 in March 1989, STS-33 in November 1989, STS-43
in August 1991 and STS-58 in October 1993.  He received a master
of science degree in astronautical engineering from Purdue
University in 1966.

     Lucid, 50, also has flown four times aboard the Shuttle. 
Shewas a  mission specialist on STS 51-G in June 1985, STS-34 in
October 1989, STS-43 in August 1991 and STS-58 in October 1993. 
She received her master of science and doctorate of philosophy
degrees in biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma in 1970
and 1973, respectively.


                         -more-
                         -2-

     As the U.S./Russia cooperative activities progress,
additional NASA personnel will be assigned to support agency
activities in Russia.


                              -end-


NASA press releases and other information are available
automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to
domo@hq.nasa.gov.  In the body of the message (not the subject
line) users should type the words "subscribe press-release" (no
quotes).  The system will reply with a confirmation via E-
mail of each subscription.  A second automatic message will
include additional information on the service.  Questions should
be directed to (202) 358-4043.