September 17, 1999

Doug Peterson
Johnson Space Center
(281) 483-5914

Release: J99-38

First Interview Group Begins Astronaut Selection Process

The first of several groups of prospective astronauts will be at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) the week of September 20 for orientation, interviews, and medical evaluations.

Approximately 120 of over 3,000 applicants are expected to be interviewed September through January 2000, for a chance to be among those named as astronaut candidates for the class of 2000. The final selections will be announced in early 2000 with the new class reporting in the summer of 2000.

This initial group of twenty includes Mark H. Anderson, Ph.D., Madison, Wisconsin; Troy G. Anderson, (Lt., USN), Pensacola, Florida; Michele A. Brekke, Friendswood, Texas; J. Scott Calvert, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Virginia Beach, Virginia; Kevin T. Christensen, (Maj., USAF), Edwards AFB, California; Trevor M. Clark, (Capt., USAF), Renton, Washington; Beau V. Duarte, (Lt., USN), Leonardtown, Maryland; Nancy D. Fechtig, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Great Mills, Maryland; Dale L. Feddersen, (Lt., USN), Atsugi, Japan; Ronald J. Garan, (Maj., USAF), Niceville, Florida; Jose M. Hernandez, Potomac, Maryland; David M. Klaus, Ph.D., Louisville, Colorado; Timothy L. Kopra, (Maj., USA), Seabrook, Texas; K. Megan McArthur, San Diego, California; Jeffrey E. Moersch, Ph.D., Mountain View, California; Rick Mooday, Ph.D., Pojoaque, New Mexico; Gurpartap S. Sandhoo, Ph.D., Laurel, Maryland; Scott D. Vangen, Merritt Island, Florida; Shannon Walker, Ph.D., Seabrook, Texas; David L. Woodbury, (Lt. Cdr., USN), Jacksonville, Florida.

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.

text-only version of this release