NAME:  Michael A. Baker (Commander, USN)
       NASA Astronaut
 
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE:  Born October 27, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee, but
considers Lemoore, California, to be his hometown.  His parents, Mr. & Mrs.
Clyde E. Baker, reside in Lemoore, California.
 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Brown hair; blue eyes; 6 feet 2 inches; 175 pounds.
 
EDUCATION:  Graduated from Lemoore Union High School, Lemoore, California, in
1971;  received a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the
University of Texas in 1975.
 
MARITAL STATUS:  Married to the former Deidra A. Mudurian of San Francisco,
California.  Her mother, Mrs. Patricia TeStruth, resides in San Jose,
California.  Her father, Mr. Myron Mudurian, resides in Akron, Ohio.
 
CHILDREN:  Lesley Anne, November 5, 1979; Jane Ashley, June 5, 1982.
 
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:  He enjoys tennis, swimming, hiking, and sailing.
 
ORGANIZATIONS:  Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Association
of Naval Aviation, the Tailhook Association, Association of Space Explorers,
Sierra Club, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
 
SPECIAL HONORS:  Awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Navy Unit
Commendation, 3 Meritorious Unit Commendations, Battle "E" Award, 3 Navy
Expeditionary Medals, National Defense Medal, 2 Sea Service Awards, and the
Overseas Service Award.
 
EXPERIENCE:  After graduation from the University of Texas, Baker completed
flight training and earned his Wings of Gold at NAS Chase Field, Beeville,
Texas, in 1977.  In 1978, he was assigned to Attack Squadron 56, embarked in
the USS Midway, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, where he flew the A-7E Corsair
II.  In late 1980 he was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 30 as the air wing
landing signal officer.  He attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981
and, after graduation, was assigned to the Carrier Suitability Branch of the
Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.  While there, Baker conducted carrier
suitability structural tests, aircraft carrier catapult and arresting gear
certification tests, and automatic carrier landing system certification and
verification tests on the various aircraft carriers of the Navy's Fleet in the
A-7 aircraft.  In 1983 he returned to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as an
instructor.  He was then assigned as the U.S. Navy Exchange Instructor at the
Empire Test Pilots School in Boscombe Down, England, teaching performance,
flying qualities and systems flight test techniques.
 
He has logged over 3,700 hours flying time in approximately 50 different types
of airplanes, including tactical jets, VSTOL, multi-engine transport and rotary
wing aircraft, and has over 300 carrier landings.
 
NASA EXPERIENCE:  Baker was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in June
1985.  In July 1986 he completed a one year training and evaluation program,
and is qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight
crews.
 
Following the Challenger accident, from January 1986 to December 1987, Baker
was assigned as a member of the team that was pursuing redesign, modification
and improvements to the Shuttle Landing and Deceleration Systems, including
nosewheel steering, brakes, tires, and drag chute, in an effort to provide
greater safety margins during landing and rollout.  He was then assigned to the
Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), where he was involved in the
checkout and verification of the computer software and hardware interfaces for
STS-26 (the "return to flight" mission) and subsequent flights.
 
Baker served as an Ascent Entry and Orbit Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for
STS-27, STS-29, STS-30, STS-28, STS-34, STS-33, STS-32, STS-36, STS-31, STS-38,
and STS-35.  In this capacity his duties included communication with the
Shuttle crew during simulations and actual missions, as well as working
procedural problems and modifications between missions.  He served as the
leader of the Astronaut Support Personnel team at the Kennedy Space Center for
Shuttle missions STS-44, STS-42 and STS-45.
 
Baker was the pilot on the crew of STS-43 on board the Orbiter Atlantis.  The
nine-day mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on August 2,
1991.  During the flight crew members deployed the fifth Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite, (TDRS-E), in addition to conducting 32 physical, material, and
life science experiments, mostly relating to the Extended Duration Orbiter and
Space Station Freedom.  After 142 orbits of the Earth, the mission concluded
with a landing on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center on August 11, 1991.
 
With the completion of his first space mission, Baker has logged over 213 hours
in space.
 
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:  Baker is assigned as the pilot on the crew of STS-52.
This nine-day mission is scheduled for launch in the Fall of 1992 aboard the
Space Shuttle Columbia.  The mission will deploy the Laser Geodynamic Satellite
(LAGEOS) which will be used to measure movements of the Earth's crust.
 
APRIL 1992