NASA FORMS OFFICE IN RUSSIA IN PREPARATION FOR ISS OPERATIONS



June 1, 1998



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



Ed Campion
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

<h4>Release: H98-94</h4> <h3>NASA Forms Office in Russia in 
Preparation for ISS Operations</h3> 

NASA has formed the Office of Human Space Flight Programs, Russia, to 
oversee the transition from the Phase One Shuttle-Mir program to the 
assembly and operation of the new International Space Station. 
Astronaut Michael A. Baker (Captain, USN) will lead this office. 
Baker recently was named Assistant Director to Johnson Space Center 
Director George W. S. Abbey to supervise the transition of human 
space flight initiatives associated with this cooperative effort.



Baker will be NASA's lead representative to the Russian Space Agency 
and its contractors on operational issues as part of NASA's Human 
Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) initiative. This places 
Russian liaison for all human space flight operations and initiatives 
under one office and consolidates preparations for the assembly of 
the International Space Station, including mission operations, crew 
training, logistics and technical liaison activities with Russian 
space organizations.



"It is critical to ensure a seamless transition takes place between 
the successful Phase One program and the start of construction of the 
International Space Station," Abbey said. "With this new office, the 
ISS program can take advantage of the knowledge and momentum gained 
from Phase One under the direction of Frank Culbertson.



"Baker's leadership and expertise provide the framework to coordinate 
activities with our Russian colleagues and provide him the unique 
opportunity to bring the operations team together for this project," 
Abbey said.



Baker has flown four shuttle missions, including his most recent 
flight as commander of STS-81 aboard Atlantis in January 1997, the 
fifth docking of a shuttle to the Mir Space Station. Prior to that 
flight, Baker served as the NASA Director of Operations at Star City 
from March to October 1995.



Other activities in Russia that fall under the leadership of Baker 
include the astronaut training responsibilities at the Gagarin 
Cosmonaut Training Center outside Moscow at Star City and all NASA 
mission operations functions at the Mission Control Center in 
Korolev.



Currently, astronaut James Halsell (Lt. Col, USAF) is serving as the 
Director of Operations, Russia, overseeing training activities for 
U.S. astronauts at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star 
City. Tom Cremins will serve on Abbey's staff in Houston as Baker's 
deputy.



For additional information on Baker, Culbertson, Halsell or any 
astronaut, see the NASA Internet biography home page at URL:



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



For more information on the International Space Station Program, see 
the homepage at URL:



http://www.station.nasa.gov

	
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