Fri, Sep 03, 2010
The Two Have Eight Shuttle Flights Between Them
NASA astronauts Linda Godwin and Scott Altman have announced
plans to leave the agency. Godwin will retire and Altman will take
a job in the private sector.
Linda Godwin NASA Photo
Godwin joined NASA in 1980 and worked in the Payload Operations
Division. She was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1985. A
veteran of four spaceflights, Godwin logged more than 38 days in
space, including more than 10 hours during two spacewalks. She flew
aboard STS-37 in 1991; served as payload commander of STS-59 in
1994; and flew on STS-76 in 1996 and STS-108 in 2001. Godwin also
supported numerous technical assignments within NASA's Astronaut
Office and most recently served as the assistant to the director
for exploration, Flight Crew Operations Directorate.
"Linda's 30-year career at NASA was filled with contributions to
the human spaceflight mission," said Brent Jett, director of Flight
Crew Operations at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "She should
be proud of her service to the agency and the country."
Scott Altman NASA Photo
Altman, a retired U.S. Navy captain, joined NASA in March 1995.
He also has flown four shuttle missions, logging more than 51 days
in space. He was the pilot of STS-90 in 1998 and STS-106 in 2000,
and was commander of the final two missions to the Hubble Space
Telescope, STS-109 in 2002 and STS-125 in 2009.
Altman also performed other technical duties within the agency,
including temporary duty to NASA Headquarters as deputy director of
the Requirements Division of the Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate. Most recently, he served as chief of the Exploration
Branch of the Astronaut Office.
"Scott has been a tremendous contribution to the astronaut corps
and this agency," said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut
Office. "In his 15 years with NASA, he has performed flawlessly and
demonstrated leadership in every position he's served. He will be
greatly missed."
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