Sept. 9, 2009 Michael Curie Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 michael.curie@xxxxxxxx Rob Lazaro Johnson Space Center, Houston 281-483-5111 robert.lazaro-1@xxxxxxxx RELEASE: 09-207 VETERAN ASTRONAUT HEIDEMARIE M. STEFANYSHYN-PIPER LEAVES NASA HOUSTON -- NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper has left NASA to return to the Navy. Stefanyshyn-Piper is a veteran of two space shuttle flights and five spacewalks. "Heide has been an outstanding astronaut, contributing significantly to the space shuttle and space station programs," said Steve Lindsey, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "In particular, her superb leadership as lead spacewalker during the STS-126 mission resulted in restoring full power generation capability to the International Space Station. We wish her the best of luck back in the Navy -- she will be missed." NASA selected Stefanyshyn-Piper as an astronaut in April 1996. She flew on the STS-115 mission in 2006 and STS-126 in 2008, logging more than 27 days in space and more than 33 hours spacewalking. Her flights to the space station helped install a truss segment and expanded the living quarters for additional crew members to live at the station. For Stefanyshyn-Piper's complete biography, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/stefanys.html For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: hqnews-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To remove your address from the list, send a message to: hqnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
