He numbered among the space pioneers,

chosen in 1965 with the first five

scientist astronauts whom no one at NASA

wanted, selected to appease the scientific community

and languish.

Yet although it took eight years,

he flew, the second Skylab mission,

a record-breaking fifty-nine days he flew.

Not yet finished, he flew again

aboard the Shuttle, the first Spacelab mission,

a record-setting ten days in 1983.

He is one of the space pioneers

who in this century are now passing

into history.  Owen K. Garriott, 88,

joins the ranks of those who have died.