Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC                                          
January 13, 1995
(Phone:  202/358-1639)

Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)

RELEASE:  95-3

TWO INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES TO JOIN 1995 ASTRONAUT 
CLASS

     Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, Ph.D., representing the 
National Space Development Agency of Japan, and Canadian 
astronaut David S. Williams, M.D., of the Canadian Space 
Agency, will join the newest group of astronaut candidates 
as mission specialists.

     Their selection brings to 21 the number of candidates 
selected for training as part of the astronaut class of 
1995.  The group consists of 11 mission specialists and 10 
pilot candidates.

     The candidates will report to the Johnson Space Center 
in March 1995 to begin a year of training and evaluation, 
followed by technical assignments within the Astronaut 
Office to further prepare them for assignment to Shuttle 
flight crews.

     Biographical data on the two international astronauts 
follows:

NAME:                   Takao Doi, Ph.D.

BIRTHDATE/PLACE: September 18, 1954 - Minamitama-gun, 
Tokyo, Japan

EDUCATION:  Ousaka-phu, Mikunigaoka High School 1973
     Bachelor of Engineering, University of  Tokyo 1978
     Master of Engineering, University of Tokyo 1980
     Doctorate, Aerospace Engineering, Univ. of Tokyo 1983

CURRENT POSITION: Japanese astronaut

MARITAL STATUS:   Hitomi Abe, Toukamachi, Niigata, Japan

NAME:            Dafydd (David) Rhys Williams, M.D.

BIRTHDATE/PLACE:May 16, 1954 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

EDUCATION:      Attended High School in Beaconsfield, 
Quebec
     BS Biology, McGill University, Montreal 1976
     MS Physiology Department, Doctorate of Medicine, and  
Master of Surgery from McGillUniversity 1983

CURRENT POSITION:   Canadian astronaut

MARITAL STATUS:   Cathy Fraser, Point-Claire, Quebec

-end-

NASA press releases and other information are available 
automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message 
to domo@hq.nasa.gov.  In the body of the message (not the 
subject line) users should type the words "subscribe press-
release" (no quotes).  The system will reply with a 
confirmation via E-mail of each subscription.  A second 
automatic message will include additional information on the 
service.  Questions should be directed to (202) 358-4043.