Astronaut Fernando Caldeiro Dies

HOUSTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut Fernando "Frank"
Caldeiro died Saturday morning after an extended illness.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Caldeiro was a member of the Astronaut Class of 1996 and most recently was
assigned to the WB-57 High Altitude Research Program within the Aircraft
Operations Division at Ellington Field in Houston. In that role, he directed
the integration and conducted the operation of high-altitude atmospheric
research experiments carried on board the NASA WB-57.

"Frank was a valued member of the astronaut corps and the Flight Crew
Operations team," said Brent Jett, director, Flight Crew Operations. "He
provided a wealth of experience and made significant contributions to the
success of both the WB-57 project and the Space Shuttle Program. He will be
missed by all those who knew him at NASA. Our hearts go out to his family."

Caldeiro joined NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in 1991 as a cryogenics and
propulsion systems expert for the safety and mission assurance office before
being selected as an astronaut. There he also served as the executive staff
assistant to the director of Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance.

For complete astronaut biographical information, visit:

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

SOURCE NASA

Nicole Cloutier-Lemasters of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston,
+1-281-483-5111, Nicole.Cloutier-1@nasa.gov