Drucella Andersen
  Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                   February 1, 1991
  (Phone:  202/453-8400)
  
  
  RELEASE:  91-17
  
  NASA ASTRONAUTS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL AERONAUTICS AWARD
  
  
  
  
  
       Ten NASA astronauts were presented today with an international 
  aeronautics award for "outstanding performance and accomplishment," by 
  National Aeronautic Association President Malvern J. Gross, Jr.  The 
  award, the 1989 Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Komarov 
  Diploma, was presented during a ceremony at NASA Headquarters.
  
       NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly noted, "We at NASA are 
  honored by this recognition from the international community of the 
  fine work of our astronauts."
  
       The recipients of the award included the crew of the March 1989 
  STS-29 flight of the Space Shuttle.  During the flight, the Tracking 
  and Data Relay Satellite was successfully deployed.  The crew included 
  Commander Michael L. Coats, Pilot John E. Blaha and Mission 
  Specialists Robert C. Springer, James F. Buchli and Dr. James P. 
  Bagian.  Also receiving the award were the astronauts from the October 
  1989 STS-34 flight of the Shuttle.  Galileo, which will become the 
  first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter, was deployed during the flight.  
  The crew included Commander Donald E. Williams, Pilot Michael J. 
  McCulley and Mission Specialists Dr. Shannon W. Lucid, Dr. Franklin R. 
  Chang-Diaz and Dr. Ellen S. Baker. 
  
       The Komarov Diploma was established in 1970 by the FAI in honor 
  of Soviet Cosomonaut Komarov who lost his life in 1964 while serving 
  on the flight of the Voskhod 1.  It is given for outstanding 
  achievements in the field of exploration of outer space.
  
  
  
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