Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, DC                              
September 2, 1992
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  703/483-5111)


RELEASE:  92-142

PAYLOAD COMMANDER NAMED FOR IML-2 MISSION

     Richard J. Hieb is named payload commander on the second 
flight of the International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) on 
Space Shuttle mission STS-66 scheduled for the summer of 1994.  
The IML series of missions provide opportunities for the 
international scientific community to conduct life sciences, 
materials sciences, atmospheric and astronomical studies in the 
microgravity Spacelab laboratory.

     As payload commander, Hieb is responsible for coordinating 
all payload requirements for the mission.

     Hieb is a veteran of two previous Space Shuttle missions.  
He was the mission specialist on STS-39, an unclassified 
Department of Defense flight in May 1991, and was responsible for 
operating the Infrared Background Signature Satellite during 
release and retrieval using the robot arm and as a free-flying 
satellite.  Hieb was also a mission specialist on STS-49 in May 
1992.  The crew on this first flight of the new orbiter Endeavour 
rescued, repaired, and reboosted the stranded Intelsat VI F3 
communications satellite. 

                             -end-