ASTRONAUT/ALUMNA KATHRYN THORNTON
 TO JOIN UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA FACULTY

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., May 22 -- NASA astronaut and physicist
Kathryn Thornton, the University of Virginia's featured speaker at
Sunday's graduation ceremony, will join the U.Va. faculty next fall. 
	In introducing Thornton, U.Va. Rector Hovey S. Dabney said
she has accepted a professorship in the School of Engineering and
Applied Science's division of technology, culture and communication,
with a joint appointment in the department of mechanical, aerospace
and nuclear engineering.
	She also will serve as director of the Center for Science
Education, an interdisciplinary project with the engineering school,
the Curry School of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and
the provostÕs office. Through a statewide outreach effort, the
center helps teachers in grades K-12 deepen their knowledge of
science and strengthen their curriculums to promote greater interest
in the sciences among students.
	"We're all delighted that Kathryn Thornton has agreed to
join the faculty of the School of Engineering and Applied Science,"
said Richard W. Miksad, dean of the engineering school. "In addition
to her scholarship and teaching abilities, she will bring the school
a wealth of experience at meeting hard challenges.  Her
accomplishments will make her a superb role model for all students
who aspire to careers in engineering, and especially to the growing
number of women, who already make up about one-fourth of the
engineering student body."
	Thornton, 43, received her undergraduate degree from Auburn
University, a master's degree in physics from U.Va.in 1977, and a
doctorate in physics from U.Va.in 1979.  At that time, only 5
percent of the doctorates in physics nationwide were earned by women.
	Selected by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration in 1984, Thornton became an astronaut the next year.
Four years later, she became the second American woman (and the
first American mother) to walk in space during the 1989 Space
Shuttle Discovery mission. Since then, she has traveled several
millions of miles and logged a total of 975 hours in space,
including more than 21 hours of space walking.
	Thornton served as a mission specialist on her third space
flight, aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which had as its mission
to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope. 
	In the fall of 1995, Thornton served as payload commander of
the Space Shuttle Columbia. As such, she directed the second U.S.
microgravity laboratory mission, which conducted experiments in
materials science, biotechnology, combustion science and the physics
of fluids, among other projects.
	In 1994 she received U.Va.Õs WomenÕs Center Distinguished
Alumna Award. That same year the Virginia General Assembly passed a
resolution commending her service. 
	Thornton has three daughters and two stepsons and is married
to Stephen T. Thornton, a physics professor at U.Va.
###
May 21, 1996
	For further comment, contact Dean Richard Miksad at (804)
924-3593.  Television reporters should contact our TV News Office at
(804) 924-7550.