Glenn Mahone/Bob Jacobs<br />Headquarters, Washington<br />(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600) September 3, 2003<br /><br />Eileen Hawley<br />Johnson Space Center, Houston<br />(Phone: 281/483-5111)<br /><br />RELEASE: 03-280<br /><br />ASTRONAUT JOHN M. GRUNSFELD SUCCEEDS SHANNON LUCID AS NASA <br />CHIEF SCIENTIST<br /><br /> Administrator Sean O'Keefe today announced the selection <br />of veteran astronaut, astronomer, and astrophysicist Dr. John <br />M. Grunsfeld as the agency's new Chief Scientist at NASA <br />Headquarters in Washington. He succeeds Dr. Shannon Lucid, <br />effective immediately.<br /><br />Grunsfeld, who played an integral role in two Space Shuttle <br />servicing missions to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), has <br />studied astronomy and physics throughout his career. As <br />NASA's Chief Scientist, he'll work to ensure the scientific <br />merit of the agency's programs.<br /><br />"John has a deep interest in astronautical science and has <br />the hands-on experience to back up what he has taught in the <br />classroom," said Administrator O'Keefe. "With his background <br />in physics and astronomy, John is a natural selection to <br />direct NASA's important space-based science objectives."<br /><br />After serving nearly two years in Washington, Lucid will <br />return to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston to assist <br />the agency's Return to Flight efforts. "I asked Shannon to <br />come to Washington to help get our science priorities in <br />order," added Administrator O'Keefe. "Thanks to her <br />leadership, and work with Mary Kicza, our Assistant <br />Administrator for Biological and Physical Research, our <br />research goals have focus and a clear direction. Shannon's <br />insight and candor will be missed in Washington, but I'm sure <br />her colleagues in Houston are looking forward to her return."<br /><br />She was selected as Chief Scientist in February 2002. During <br />her tenure, one of Lucid's most important tasks was to work <br />with the offices of Biological and Physical Research, Earth <br />Science, Space Science, and Space Flight to develop a <br />comprehensive plan for prioritization of research on board <br />the International Space Station.<br /><br />Lucid also updated NASA's science policy, which had not been <br />done since 1996. The policy stipulates science grants will be <br />peer reviewed, and NASA scientists must compete for research <br />funding.<br /><br />She joined NASA in 1978 and became an astronaut in August <br />1979. She has flown as a mission specialist on STS-51G in <br />1985, STS-34 in 1989, STS-43 in 1991 and STS-58 in 1993. In <br />1996, she was flown to Mir during STS-76, where she served as <br />an engineer and conducted numerous life science and physical <br />science experiments during her stay in orbit. <br /><br />When Lucid returned to Earth after STS-79, she had traveled <br />more than 75 million miles and spent more than 188 days in <br />orbit, an American record at the time. For her extraordinary <br />efforts, Lucid was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of <br />Honor.<br /><br />Grunsfeld is a veteran of four Space Shuttle flights. In1999 <br />and 2002 he took part in a total of five successful <br />spacewalks to upgrade Hubble. As a Mission Specialist on STS-<br />103, Grunsfeld helped install new gyroscopes and scientific <br />instruments and upgraded Hubble's systems. During STS-109, he <br />served as Payload Commander, in charge of the spacewalking <br />activities and the HST payload. He and three other crewmates <br />installed a new digital camera, cooling system for the <br />infrared camera, new solar arrays, and power system.<br /><br />"Servicing the Hubble Space Telescope is by far and away the <br />most meaningful thing I've ever done. It's helping us answer <br />fundamental questions about our world and our place in the <br />universe," said Grunsfeld. "I was born the same year NASA was <br />established, so we grew up together. I quickly discovered <br />space exploration and science mesh well together and I <br />couldn't be more excited about this opportunity."<br /><br />A native of Chicago, Grunsfeld received a bachelor's degree <br />in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in <br />1980. He earned a maters degree and a doctorate in physics <br />from the University of Chicago in 1984 and 1988, <br />respectively.<br /><br />Grunsfeld was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1992. His first <br />flight assignment came in 1995 on board the Space Shuttle <br />Endeavour on STS-67. In 1997, Grunsfeld served as flight <br />engineer for the Space Shuttle Atlantis during STS-81 and a <br />10-day mission to Russia's Mir space station. He has logged <br />over 45 days in space, including 37 hours and 32 minutes <br />working outside the Space Shuttle.<br /><br />Grunsfeld has been honored with the W.D. Grainger Fellow in <br />Experimental Physics and was awarded the NASA Distinguished <br />Service Medal earlier this year. He was awarded NASA Space <br />Flight Medals in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2002, and earned the <br />agency's Exceptional Service Medal in 1997, 1998, and 2000. <br /><br />Additional information is available on the Internet at <br />www.nasa.gov and spaceflight.nasa.gov.