Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC            January 8, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1639)

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone:  281/483-5111)

RELEASE:  97-5

ASTRONAUT RICH CLIFFORD DEPARTS NASA

     Astronaut Michael "Rich" Clifford, a three-time Shuttle 
veteran, departed NASA on January 6 to join the Boeing Company as 
Flight Operations manager for the International Space Station 
Program.

     "Rich has been a valuable asset and his contributions will be 
sorely missed," said David C. Leestma, director of Flight Crew 
Operations.  "We wish him the best of luck in his new position and 
look forward to a continuing relationship with him as we move 
forward with assembly of the International Space Station."

     Clifford joined NASA in July 1987 as a Space Shuttle Vehicle 
Integration engineer and was subsequently selected as an astronaut 
in 1990.  His three Shuttle missions are 
STS-53 in December 1992, STS-59 in April 1994 and STS-76 in March 
1996.

     "I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with such 
dedicated people at the Johnson Space Center and within NASA for 
the last nine years," said Clifford.  "I will continue my earnest 
support of human exploration of space in my new position with the 
Boeing Company."

     In his new role, Clifford will be responsible for Space 
Station operations in conjunction with NASA's Mission Control 
Center and Flight Crew Operations Directorate.  He will develop 
operational concepts for mission support and flight procedures.

     For complete biographical information on Clifford and other 
astronauts, see the NASA Internet astronaut biography home page at 
address:

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

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