ASTRONAUT AND DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA KATHRYN THORNTON
TO BE U.VA.'S GRADUATION SPEAKER

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 19 -- NASA astronaut Kathryn C.
Thornton will address the University of Virginia's Class of 1996 at
Final Exercises May 19.
	Thornton, who became an astronaut in 1985, most recently was
payload commander in charge of microgravity experiments aboard the
Space Shuttle Columbia last October.  She was part of a seven-person
crew that worked on a variety of experiments yielding new
information in biotechnology, fluid physics and materials science.  
	She helped repair the Hubble Space Telescope by outfitting
it with new solar energy panels during a previous assignment aboard
the Space Shuttle Endeavour in December 1993.  A veteran
space-walker, Thornton  has logged more than 590 hours in space.
	A graduate of Auburn University, she earned two advanced
degrees in physics from U.Va.:  a master's degree in 1977 and a
doctorate in 1979.
	Among Thornton's many honors are U.Va.'s Women's Center's
1994 Distinguished Alumna Award and a 1994 resolution commending her
service that was passed by the Virginia state legislature.
	She is married to Stephen T. Thornton, a U.Va. physics
professor.
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March 18, 1996