Stefanyshyn-Piper chosen for astronaut program (11/10/96)

Stefanyshyn-Piper chosen for astronaut program

by Dr. Michael J. Kozak

MINNEAPOLIS - Heidi Stefanyshyn-Piper, a member of the Ukrainian community in the Twin Cities, was chosen for the NASA astronauts training program.

Ms. Stefanyshyn-Piper, daughter of Adelheid and the late Michael Stefanyshyn, was born and grew up in the Twin Cities. She was an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Youth Organization and was also a group leader in the Ukrainian scouting organization Plast. She completed Ukrainian studies at St. Constantine Church Saturday School, was an outstanding dancer of the Zahrava Folk Dance Ensemble, a member of the singing group Troyandy and participated in many other youth-sponsored events.

At her high school Ms. Stefanyshyn-Piper was a member of the Drama Club and the National Honor Society. During her senior year she was chosen "Most Intelligent" in a class poll and was assistant editor of the school yearbook.

Upon graduation from high school in 1980, she received a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She completed her studies with a bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical engineering.

She joined the Navy, where she achieved the rank of lieutenant commander. According to an article published in St. Paul Pioneer Press (August 16), Ms. Stefanyshyn-Piper is also a diver and an experienced salvage officer, and was with the Navy's Naval Sea System Command before being accepted into the NASA Space Training Program.

In an interview with a Navy publication, Ms. Stefanyshyn-Piper stated that she joined the space program for the same reason she became a diver. She was quoted as saying: "I was looking for something challenging that would broaden my horizons." She said her work as a diver gave her a chance to work in a foreign environment, adding that "space is the ultimate foreign environment, and it really is the final frontier."