Ed Campion October 3, 1995

Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-1780)

Eileen Hawley
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 713/483-5111)

RELEASE: 95-166

ASTRONAUT CHARLES LACY VEACH DIES

Space Shuttle Astronaut Charles Lacy Veach, 51, died today

following a lengthy illness.

Veach was selected to be an astronaut with the class of

1984 and flew as a mission specialist on two Shuttle flights
-- STS-39 in April/May 1991 and on STS-52 in October 1992.

"Lacy Veach was an accomplished and beloved member of the

NASA family," said NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin. "He
was a skilled pilot and an enthusiastic explorer. We will
miss him."

On STS-39, an unclassified Department of Defense mission

aboard Discovery, Veach participated in various experiments,
including working with an ultraviolet astronomical camera, an
X-ray telescope, and a liquid-helium-cooled infrared telescope
which performed observations of the Earth's atmosphere and the
Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).

During STS-52, Veach and the crew deployed the Laser

Geodynamics Satellite, a reflective spacecraft designed to
measure movements of the Earth's crust. Veach also operated
the Shuttle's robot arm to test the Space Vision System
designed to improve perception of crew members while
maneuvering payloads in space.

Prior to becoming an astronaut, Veach was an engineer and

research pilot at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, with
primary duty as an instructor pilot in the Shuttle Training
Aircraft. Veach also provided Astronaut Office support to the
Space Station Program.
 A 1966 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Veach
earned his pilot wings at Moody Air Force Base, GA, in 1967
and spent the next 14 years as an Air Force fighter pilot,
flying the F-100, F-111 and the F-105, including a 275-mission
combat tour in Southeast Asia. In 1976 and 1977, he was a
member of the Thunderbirds, the USAF Air Demonstration
Squadron. He remained active in the Texas Air National Guard
based at Ellington Field in Houston, flying F-16s.

During his service, Veach earned the Distinguished Flying

Cross with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 13 Oak
Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak
Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart.

Veach was born in Chicago, IL, in 1944, but considers

Honolulu, HI, his hometown. He is survived by his wife and
two children.

-end-

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