Jim Cast

Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 27, 1990

(Phone: 202/453-8536)

RELEASE: 90-116

SPACE FLIGHT'S MAHON TO RETIRE

Joseph B. Mahon, Deputy Associate Administrator for Space

Flight (Flight Systems) has announced his retirement effective
Sept. 1, 1990 after nearly 30 years with NASA and a total of 44
years of government service. Since 1987, he has been responsible
for managing and directing unmanned launch vehicles and upper
stages, Shuttle carrier systems including spacelab operations and
tether satellite systems as well as advanced programs such as
Shuttle-C, the Advanced Launch System, Assured Crew Return
Vehicle and orbital debris investigations.

After serving as a systems and project engineer for the U.S.

Navy's Polaris and Sparrow missile programs, Mahon joined NASA
where he served as the Agena Program Manager. While in this
position he received NASA's Exceptional Service Medal for work
resulting in the first U.S. spacecraft landing on the Moon.

From 1967-1982, he served as Director of Expendable Launch

Vehicles (ELVs) for which he received NASA's Distinguished
Service medal. During this 15-year period, over 200 payloads
were successfully launched by ELVs, including Earth-orbiting
craft such as TIROS, NIMBUS, and Orbiting Solar, Geophysical and
Astronomical observatories and communications satellites such as
Syncom. Sophisticated probes and interplanetary spacecraft also
were boosted toward new and distant targets including Rangers,
Surveyors and Lunar Orbiters to the Moon and Mariners, Pioneers,
Vikings and Voyagers to the planets.

In 1982, Mahon was named Director, Space Transportation

Support Programs. In 1986, he was appointed Acting Deputy
Associate Administrator for Space Flight and assumed his present
position in March, 1987.

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A native of Sugar Notch, Penn., Mahon holds a B.S. degree in

Mechanical Engineering from Catholic University, Washington, D.C.
He and his wife, Ellen, reside in Seabrook, Md.

- end -

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TO: MDS/PRA Group
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DATE & TIME: AUGUST 27, 1990

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PROJECT TITLE: Release No: 90-116

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