August 27, 1998

Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-1638)

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center, Houston TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

Release: 98-155

International Candidates Join 1998 Astronaut Class

A cadre of international astronaut candidates has arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, to begin training as members of the 1998 Astronaut Class.

The international candidates, from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany and Italy, will train as mission specialists for future Space Shuttle and International Space Station flight assignments.

"The Class of 1998 continues our international cooperation in space as we begin assembly of the International Space Station," said David C. Leestma, director of Flight Crew Operations. "We welcome our international astronauts and the entire class. They have a lot of work and a very exciting time ahead of them."

The international candidates are: Leopold Eyharts, Paolo Nespoli, Hans Schlegel and Roberto Vittori, European Space Agency; Bjarni V. Tryggvason, Canadian Space Agency; and Marcos Pontes, Brazilian Space Agency.

For complete biographical information on the astronaut corps, including these international candidates, see the NASA Internet biography home page at URL:

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

text-only version of this release