THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 13, 1994 TAG: 9412130254
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA. LENGTH: Short : 29 lines
Former astronaut Robert Crippen, director of the Kennedy Space Center and pilot of the first space shuttle flight, is leaving NASA after 25 years.
Crippen, 57, said Monday he will pursue a career in industry but has no specific plans. His resignation is effective Jan. 21. He has been director of the space center since 1992.
He said it was ``an opportune time in my life to move on to new challenges.''
No successor was named.
Crippen, a retired Navy captain, became an astronaut in 1969 and piloted Columbia on the first shuttle flight in 1981. He was commander on three shuttle flights in 1983 and 1984.
He was deputy director of shuttle operations at Kennedy from 1986 to 1989. ILLUSTRATION: Crippen
by CNB