Posted: Thu, Sep 4, 2003, 10:35 AM ET (1435 GMT)
NASA announced Wednesday that it has named veteran astronaut and astrophysicist John Grunsfeld as the agency's chief scientist, replacing fellow astronaut Shannon Lucid. Grunsfeld, a NASA astronaut since 1992, has flown on four shuttle missions, including the last two missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope. He holds a PhD in physics from the University of Chicago and worked as an astrophysicist before becoming an astronaut. Lucid had been chief scientist at NASA Headquarters since February 1992, carrying out reforms to the agency's science policy as well as helping develop a plan for prioritizing research on the International Space Station. Lucid is returning to the Johnson Space Center to work on shuttle return-to-flight activities.

Related Links:

•  NASA press release
•  AFP article