FINAL GROUP OF INTERVIEWEES ARRIVES FOR SELECTION PROCESS



January 12, 1997



Eileen M. Hawley
Johnson Space Center
(281) 483-5111

<h4>Release: J98-2</h4> <h3>Final Group of Interviewees Arrives for 
Selection Process</h3> 

The final of six groups of prospective astronauts will visit the 
Johnson Space Center (JSC) the week of January 12 for interviews, 
orientation and medical evaluations as the astronaut selection 
process concludes.



With the arrival of this group of interviewees, 121 candidates 
selected from more than 2,600 applicants, will have participated in 
the selection process for an opportunity to be among those named as 
astronaut candidates for the class of 1998. The final selections will 
be announced in early 1998 with the new class reporting next summer.



The sixth group of 20 applicants includes: James D. Collier, (Lt. 
Col., USAF), Centreville, VA; Stephen Corda, Ph.D., Rosamond, CA; 
Dean B. Eppler, Ph.D., Houston, TX; Robert H. Ess, Lexington Park, 
MD; Michael E. Haddad, Cocoa Beach, FL; Patricia C. Hilliard, M.D., 
Seabrook, TX; John M. Horack, Ph.D., Huntsville, AL; Aaron B. Kiely, 
Ph.D., Pasadena, CA; Mark H. Kliss, Ph.D., Sunnyvale, CA; Cheryl A. 
McPhillips, Merritt Island, FL; David M. Nelson, (Lt. Col., USAF), 
Woodbridge, VA; Donald E. Reed, (Lt. Col., USA), League City, TX; 
Christopher M. Rey, Ph.D., Hockessin, DE; Robert A. Rivers, Poquoson, 
VA; Cassandra T. Swain, Ph.D., Aberdeen, NJ; Gerald A. Swift, 
(Capt.,USAF), Piney Point, MD; Evan C. Thomas, (Capt., USAF), 
Edwards, CA; Robert A. Wilson, (Major, USAF), Lancaster, CA; Michelle 
F. Yarborough, (Lt. Col., USA), Clarksville, TN; Darrell F. 
Zimbelman, Ph.D., Columbia, MD.



Astronaut candidate selections are conducted approximately every two 
years with the number of candidates selected depending on Space 
Shuttle flight rates, overall program requirements and astronaut 
attrition rates.

	
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