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Release: 00-185

Fisher named to head X-34 rocket plane project at NASA Marshall Center

Mark Fisher has been named X-34 rocket plane project manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

In his new position, Fisher will oversee development and testing of the X-34 reusable, sub-orbital test vehicle — designed to demonstrate key technologies to help lower the cost of putting a payload into space from $10,000 per pound to $1,000 per pound. He also will oversee development and testing of the Fastrac Engine, which will power the X-34.

Fisher began his NASA career in 1990 in the Marshall Center’s Propulsion Laboratory. He most recently led the Vehicle Subsystem Engineering Group, responsible for vehicle engineering of all flight projects in Marshall’s Space Transportation Directorate.

Among honors he has received while at Marshall is the Silver Snoopy Award, for work on the Space Shuttle Main Propulsion System. The Silver Snoopy is presented to NASA employees for their contributions to the success of the Shuttle program.

Fisher received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Edinboro, and both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University in University Park.

Fisher, his wife Kirsten and their son Michael reside in Hazel Green, Ala.