Astronauts Linda Godwin and Scott Altman Leave NASA

HOUSTON -- 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.

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."

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."

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA