NAME:  Charles J. Precourt (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF)
       NASA Astronaut
 
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE:  Born June 29, 1955 in Waltham, Massachusetts,
but considers Hudson, Massachusetts to be his hometown.  His parents,
Charles and Helen Precourt, reside in Hudson.
 
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Brown hair; blue eyes; 5 feet 9 inches; 160
pounds.
 
EDUCATION:  Graduated from Hudson High School, Hudson, Massachusetts,
in 1973; received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical
engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1977, a master
of science degree in engineering management from Golden Gate
University in 1988, and a master of arts degree in national security
affairs and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College
in 1990.  While at the United States Air Force Academy, Precourt also
attended the French Air Force Academy in 1976 as part of an exchange
program.
 
MARITAL STATUS:  Married to the former Lynne Denise Mungle of St.
Charles, Missouri.  Her parents, Loyd and Jerry Mungle, reside in Blue
Eye, Missouri.
 
CHILDREN:  Michelle, April 2, 1981; Sarah, October 6, 1982; and Aimee,
December 28, 1985.
 
RECREATIONAL INTERESTS:  He enjoys golf and flying light aircraft.  He
flies a Varieze, an experimental aircraft he built himself.
 
ORGANIZATIONS:  Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
(SETP), the Soaring Society of America, and Experimental Aircraft
Association.
 
SPECIAL HONORS:  Twice awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service
Medal.  Precourt is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air
Force Academy and the United States Naval War College.  In 1978 he was
the Air Training Command Trophy Winner as the outstanding graduate of
his pilot training class.  In 1989 he was recipient of the David B.
Barnes Award as the Outstanding Instructor pilot at the United States
Air Force Test Pilot School.
 
EXPERIENCE:  Precourt graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training at
Reese Air Force Base, Texas, in 1978.  Initially he flew as an
instructor pilot in the T-37, and later as a maintenance test pilot in
the T-37 and T-38 aircraft.  From 1982 through 1984, he flew an
operational tour in the F-15 Eagle at Bitburg Air Base in Germany.  In
1985 he attended the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at
Edwards Air Force Base in California.  Upon graduation from the War
College, Precourt joined the astronaut program.  His flight experience
includes over 4,300 hours in over 35 types of civil and military
aircraft.  He holds commercial pilot, multi-engine instrument, glider
and certified flight instructor ratings.
 
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Precourt became an astronaut in July
1991.  He is qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space
Shuttle flight crews.  His technical assignments to date include
duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, working
on ascent, entry, and launch abort issues.
 
CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:  Precourt is assigned as a mission specialist on
the crew of STS-55, Spacelab D2, now scheduled for an early 1993
launch.  STS-55 is a cooperative mission with the German Space Agency
to conduct research in robotics, materials processing, and life
sciences.
 
APRIL 1992