McDonald's congratulates NASA Astronaut and former McDonald's restaurant crew employee, Commander Leroy Chiao on a successful mission in outer space. Dr. Chiao returned to Earth at 6:08 p.m. EDT on Sunday, April 24, 2005, in Kazakhstan, former USSR Republic, after conducting six months of scientific research aboard the International Space Station.

Upon his return to Earth, McDonald's will present Dr. Chiao the flagship Big Mac® sandwich and French fries in Star City, Russia approximately 40 miles outside of Moscow. The McDonald's meal will be one of the first meals on Earth Dr. Chiao will enjoy in nearly 200 days.

"McDonald's applauds the accomplishments of Dr. Leroy Chiao," said Mike Roberts, President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's Corporation. "Through his success with NASA, Dr. Chiao has expanded the world's knowledge and opened new doors to discovery. McDonald's is proud to celebrate the achievements of past and present crew members from around the world."

For more than 50 years, McDonald's has provided millions of people with the opportunity to explore their dreams as part of the McDonald's team. McDonald's focus on training and education instill the values of teamwork, integrity and pride to more than 1.5 million employees around the world every day.

At age sixteen, Dr. Chiao's first job was as a McDonald's crew member in Walnut Creek, Calif.

As part of the team, McDonald's crew members are taught valuable life lessons such as teamwork, education and leadership. McDonald's has received global recognition for creating opportunities for employees at all levels and of all ethnicities.

• McDonald's USA - Ranked #1 Best Company for Minorities (2003-2004) by Fortune Magazine
• McDonald's UK - Among the Top 10 UK Private Sector Performers in Ethnic Minority Diversity (2003) by Race for Opportunity
• McDonald's Australia - Employer of Choice for Women in Australia (2003) by Equal Opportunity for Women in Workplace Agency
• Of McDonald's franchise owners in the U.S., 39 percent are minorities and women

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving nearly 50 million people in 119 countries each day. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women. McDonald's is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in the work place.