January 20, 2000

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center
(281) 483-5914

Release: J00-5

Fifth Interview Group Begins Astronaut Selection Process

The fifth of several groups of prospective astronauts will be at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) the week of January 23 for orientation, interviews, and medical evaluations.

Approximately 120 of over 3,000 applicants will be interviewed for a chance to be among those named as astronaut candidates. The final selections for the class of 2000 will be announced early this year with the astronaut candidates reporting for duty in the summer.

This group of applicants includes: Paul R. Bernado, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Huntingtown, Maryland; Robert M. Blake, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Shelton, Connecticut; Eric A. Boe, (Maj., USAF), Shalimar, Florida; Roderick L. Cregier, (Maj., USAF), Henderson, Nevada; Harold D. Dillon, (Maj., USAF), San Antonio, Texas; B. Alvin Drew, (Maj., USAF), Hampton, Virginia; Scott J. Fisher, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Virginia Beach, Virginia; Douglas G. Gallagher, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Virginia Beach, Virginia; Susan L. Hallenbeck, Ph.D., Wilmington, Delaware; James R. Hartke, D.V.M., Ph.D., Westchester, Ohio; D. Keoki Jackson, Sc.D., Mountain View, California; Robert J. Johnston, (Maj., USA), Seabrook, Texas; William S. Leister, (Capt., USAF), Swansea, Illiniois; Patrick J. McGinnis, M.D., Friendswood, Texas; Troy E. Meink, Ph.D., Sandia Park, New Mexico; James F. Peters, Ph.D., Seabrook, Texas; Om Prakash, (Capt., USAF), Edwards, California; W. Spencer Reeder III, Boulder, Colorado; William J. Thornton, (Lt. Col., USAF), Stafford, Virginia; Dale A. Watring, Ph.D., Brownsboro, Alabama; and Barry E. Wilmore, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Edwards AFB, California.

Astronaut candidate selections are conducted approximately every two years with the number of candidates selected depending on Space Shuttle flight rates, Space Station requirements, overall program requirements and astronaut attrition rates. Following over a year of training, astronaut candidates can become full-fledged astronauts eligible for flight assignments.

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