Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, DC              December 13, 1994
(Phone: 202/358-1778)

Hugh Harris
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone:  407/867-2201)

RELEASE:  94-211


KSC CENTER DIRECTOR ROBERT L. CRIPPEN TO LEAVE NASA 

     John F. Kennedy Space Center Director Robert L. Crippen has 
announced he will leave NASA effective January 21 after more than 25 
years with the Agency.

     Crippen plans to explore opportunities in the private sector. 
However, he has no specific plans at this time.

     In making the announcement, he said, "I have been proud to be 
part of NASA and the KSC team. I know they will continue to carry on 
our tradition of safe, successful and efficient launches."

     "Bob Crippen is one of the giants of our nation's space 
exploration efforts and he will leave large shoes to be filled," said
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. "Crip's contributions to NASA and
the Shuttle program have been enormous, from making the first historic
flight of the Space Shuttle, to running the Kennedy Space Center. We 
wish him well, and thank him for his dedicated service to NASA and to 
America."

     Crippen has been Director of KSC since January 1, 1992. He 
moved to KSC from NASA Headquarters where he had served as the 
Director, Space Shuttle Program for two years.  Prior to that time, he
was Deputy Director of the Shuttle program, based at KSC. These
positions placed Crippen in a senior management role in the Launch
Control Center for the 41 Space Shuttle launches since the Challenger
accident, 22 of those as KSC Center Director.

     Crippen joined NASA as an astronaut at the Johnson Space 
Center, Houston,  in September 1969 following the cancellation of the 
United States Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program. He 
served as a member of the astronaut support crew for the Skylab 2, 3 
and 4 missions and for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. 

                                -more-
                                   -2-

     Crippen was the pilot of the first orbital test flight of the
Space Shuttle program -- STS-1, launched April 12, 1981 -- and was the
commander of three Shuttle flights:  STS-7, June 18-24, 1983; STS-41C,
April 6-13, 1984; and STS-41-G, October 6-13, 1984.

     He was born September 11, 1937, in Beaumont, TX.  He received 
a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the
University of Texas in 1960.  He was commissioned through the U.S.
Navy's Aviation Officer Program. As a Navy pilot from June 1962 to
November 1964 he completed a tour of duty aboard the aircraft carrier
USS Independence. He later attended the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot 
School at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.  Upon graduation he remained at 
Edwards as an instructor until his selection for the USAF MOL program 
in October 1966.

     Crippen's accomplishments have earned him many notable 
awards: the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1972; five awards in 
1981 including the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Award, 
the American Astronautical Society of Flight Achievement Award, the 
National Geographic Society's Gardiner Greene Hubbard Medal and 
installation into the Aviation Hall of Fame.  In 1982 he won the
Federal Aviation Administration's Award for Distinguished Service, the
Goddard Memorial Trophy and the Harmon Trophy.  In addition, Crippen
earned four NASA Space Flight Medals.

                                       -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.