NAME:  Susan J. Helms (Major, USAF)
       NASA Astronaut
 
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE:  Born February 26, 1958, in Charlotte, North
Carolina, but considers Portland, Oregon, to be her hometown.  Her
parents, Lt. Col. (Ret., USAF) Pat and Dori Helms, reside in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Brown hair; blue eyes; 5 feet 5 inches; 135
pounds.
 
EDUCATION:  Graduated from Parkrose Senior High School, Portland,
Oregon, in 1976; received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical
Engineering from the USAF Academy in 1980, and a master of science
degree in Aeronautics/Astronautics from Stanford University in 1985.
             
MARITAL STATUS:  Single.
 
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:  Jazz piano and other musical activities,
jogging, computers, reading, and needlepoint.
 
ORGANIZATIONS:  Women Military Aviators; U.S. Air Force Academy
Association of Graduates; Stanford Alumni Association; American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
 
SPECIAL HONORS:  Recipient of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal,
and the Air Force Commendation Medal.  Named a Distinguished Graduate
of the USAF Pilot School, and recipient of the R. L. Jones Award for
Outstanding Flight Test Engineer, Class 88A.  In 1990, received the
Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment Commanding Officer's
Commendation, a special award unique to the Canadian Forces.  Named
the Air Force Armament Laboratory Junior Engineer of the Year in 1983.
 
EXPERIENCE:  Helms graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1980.
She received her commission and was assigned to Eglin AFB, Florida, as
an F-16 weapons separation engineer with the Air Force Armament
Laboratory.  In 1982, she became the Lead Engineer for F-15 weapons
separation.  In 1984 she was selected to attend graduate school.  She
received her degree from Stanford University in 1985 and was assigned
as an Assistant Professor of Aeronautics at the USAF Academy.  In
1987, she attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB,
California.  After completing one year of training as a flight test
engineer, Helms was assigned as a USAF Exchange Officer to the
Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta,
Canada, where she worked as a flight test engineer and project officer
on the CF-18 aircraft.  She was managing the development of a CF-18
Flight Control System Simulation for the Canadian Forces when selected
for the astronaut program.
 
As a flight test engineer, Helms has flown in 30 different types of
U.S. and Canadian military aircraft.
 
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Helms became an astronaut in July
1991.  She is qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on
future Space Shuttle flight crews, and is presently working
RMS/Robotics issues in the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut
Office.
 
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:  Major Helms is assigned as a mission specialist
on the crew of STS-54.  This six day mission will feature the
deployment of TDRS-F and is scheduled for launch late in 1992.
 
AUGUST 1991