[sarex] ASTRONAUT FRANK CULBERTSON DEPARTS NASA

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NASA HSF News Digest   Wednesday, September 4 2002   Volume 01 : Number
085

Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2002 08:58:41 -0500 (CDT)


Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281/483-5111

ASTRONAUT FRANK CULBERTSON DEPARTS NASA

Astronaut Frank L. Culbertson Jr. (Capt., USN, Ret.) ended his NASA
career, retiring last week from the U.S. astronaut corps to pursue new
opportunities in the private sector.  An International Space Station
commander, space shuttle commander and pilot, and NASA manager for the
Phase I Shuttle-Mir Program, he departed NASA on Aug. 24. 

A veteran of three spaceflights totaling 144 days in space, Culbertson
returned in December 2001 from a four-month stay aboard the space station
as the commander of Expedition Three. He was the sole American off the
planet on Sept. 11 and saw the effects of the attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. 

Before space station training, Culbertson was instrumental in the
successful implementation of the Phase I program with Russia. He
commanded the 1993 STS-51 shuttle mission and served as pilot for STS-38
in 1990. Before his selection to become an astronaut, Culbertson served
as a Navy pilot and test pilot with over 6,500 hours flying time in more
than 50 types of aircraft and three types of spacecraft.

"Frank has had an incredible career as a pilot, astronaut and NASA
manager," said Charlie Precourt, chief of the Astronaut Office.  "It
takes a truly unique combination of technical and managerial skills to
succeed in these fields, and Frank can do it all. We all wish him well in
his new endeavors."

Capt. Culbertson said,  "Flying in space became my childhood dream
shortly after President Kennedy gave us the challenge to go to the moon. 
I have had the rare and fortunate opportunity of living this dream for 18
years and being a small part of our country's space history.  I want to
thank the hundreds of people in NASA, Russia, and our partner nations who
have helped make that possible for me over the years.  My prayers will be
with them as they continue to make history and overcome the risks that
enable great achievements.  It has been an honor to work with such a
talented and courageous international team."

For complete biographical information about Culbertson and other
astronauts, visit the NASA Astronaut Biography page at 

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios.

- -end-

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