Buena Park, Calif. -- NASA Astronaut James Newman visited Leach International on April 11 as part of NASA Space Flight Awareness Program. Supplier visits, such as this, are key opportunities for astronauts to meet NASA contractor employees and thank them for their work on behalf of all the astronauts who rely on their products. Leach International is one of the oldest and largest suppliers of aerospace relays and solid state switching devices.

Recently returned from the highly successful Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission (STS-109), Newman helped upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope by replacing an old solar array and reaction wheel assembly with new units and replacing Hubble Faint Object Camera with the state-of-the-art Advanced Camera for Surveys. The HST servicing and upgrade was accomplished by four crewmembers during a total of 5 EVAs (space walks) in 5 consecutive days. Newman performed two space walks totaling 14 hours and 46 minutes.

Newman visit to Leach International included a tour of the facility, a visit with Leach International employees, and a presentation to employees about his most recent mission.

Selected for astronaut training by NASA in January 1990, Newman is a veteran of four space flights (STS-51 in 1993, STS-69 in 1995, STS-88 in 1998, and STS-109 in 2002). Prior to his flight on STS-109, Newman served as the RMS Integration Manager responsible for the Orbiter robotic arm and the Space Vision System in the Shuttle Program Office. Newman has logged over 43 days in space, including six space walks totaling 43 hours and 13 minutes.