Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                                      
July 3, 1991
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)


RELEASE:  91-104

ASTRONAUT COATS TO LEAVE NASA


   Astronaut Michael L. Coats will retire from the Navy and 
leave NASA Aug. 1 to become Director of Advanced Programs and 
Technical Planning at Loral in Houston.  Coats is a captain in 
the Navy.

   Coats was Pilot on STS-41D launched Aug. 30, 1984, on which 
three satellites were deployed and the OAST-1 solar cell wing 
was tested.  He was Commander of STS-29, a Tracking and Data 
Relay Satellite deployment mission, launched Mar. 13, 1989.  He 
also commanded the crew of STS-39, the first unclassified 
Department of Defense flight, launched Apr. 28, 1991, on which 
the crew members worked around-the-clock in two-shift 
operations to deploy, operate and retrieve the SPAS-II 
spacecraft to gain research information on Shuttle engine 
firings.  In addition to these flight assignments, Coats served 
as Acting Chief of the Astronaut Office from May 1989 to March 
1990.

   "My years at NASA have convinced me that the finest folks in 
the world are attracted to the space program.  I am extremely 
pleased to be able to change career directions and still be 
involved with this wonderful group of people," Coats said.

   "Mike has been an outstanding asset to the space program and 
his expertise will be missed.  We are sorry to see him leave, 
but we are happy that we will be able to continue working with 
him in this new capacity," Director of Flight Crew Operations 
Donald R. Puddy said.

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