Mark Hess
  Headquarters, Washington, D.C.              January 8, 1991
  (Phone:  202/453-4164)
  
  Barbara Schwartz
  Johnson Space Center, Houston
  (Phone:  713/483-5111)
  
  
  RELEASE:  91-4
  
  ASTRONAUT FISHER TO LEAVE NASA
  
       Astronaut William F. Fisher, M.D., will resign from NASA 
  effective January 31, 1991.  He will return to the full-time 
  practice of medicine as an emergency specialist at Humana 
  Hospital-Clear Lake, Clear Lake, Texas.
  
       Selected by NASA in 1980, Dr. Fisher was a mission 
  specialist on the 20th Space Shuttle mission in August 1985.  
  During this flight the crew deployed three communication 
  satellites, then performed a successful on-orbit rendezvous with 
  the ailing 15,400 lb SYNCOM IV-3 satellite.  Fisher, along with 
  astronaut James van Hoften, performed two EVA's (Extravehicular 
  Activity) to successfully repair the satellite.  The first of 
  these spacewalks was the longest in the history of spaceflight.
  
       In his 10 years with NASA, Dr. Fisher's work has included 
  high altitude research on the WB57 aircraft, astronaut office 
  representative for EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit or 
  spacesuit) and EVA procedures and development, support crewman 
  for Shuttle mission STS-8, capsule communicator for STS-8 and 
  STS-9, Chief of Astronaut Public Appearances and the MMU (Manned 
  Maneuvering Unit jet-powered backpack) development team.  His 
  most recent assignment was to co-chair (with NASA robotics expert 
  Charles R. Price) the External Maintenance Task Team for Space 
  Station Freedom.
  
       In his letter of resignation, Dr. Fisher stated, "It has 
  been both an honor and a privilege to have served as a NASA 
  Astronaut over the past ten years.  I know of no higher purpose, 
  and have met no finer people.  I wish you every success in the 
  future."
  
                                -end-