Laurel Clark

Laurel Blair Salton Clark (March 10, 1961 – February 1, 2003) was a medical doctor, United States Navy Captain, NASA astronaut and Space Shuttle mission specialist of STS-107 (Columbia) who was killed when the craft disintegrated after re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Clark, of Racine, Wisconsin became an astronaut in 1996. Portrait of Laurel Blair Salton Clark, from NASA website File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in Leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit (MMU) outside the Challenger in 1984. ... The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 1981 (NASA). ... The STS-107 crewmembers strike a ‘flying’ pose for their traditional in-flight crew portrait in the SPACEHAB aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. ... Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering that concerns aircraft, spacecraft and related topics. ... Atmospheric entry is the transition from the vacuum of space to the atmosphere of any planet or other celestial body. ... Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Earths atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by the Earths gravity. ... Racine is a city located in Racine County, Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River[1]. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 81,855. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 23rd 169,790 km² 420 km 500 km 17 42°30N to 47°3N 86°49W to 92°54W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 18th 5,453,896 38. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Personal data

Born in Iowa, but considered Racine, Wisconsin, to be her hometown. Died on February 1, 2003 over the southern United States when Space Shuttle Columbia broke up and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing. She is survived by her husband Jon, and their child Ian. Laurel enjoyed scuba diving, hiking, camping, biking, parachuting, flying, traveling. Laurel's final message to her friends and family was through an email [1] sent from Space Shuttle Columbia. Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 26th 145,743 km² 320 km 500 km 0. ... Racine is a city located in Racine County, Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River[1]. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 81,855. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Space Shuttle Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space shuttle in NASAs orbital fleet. ... Early ideas of autonomous under-water systems appear in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Scuba diving is the use of independent breathing equipment to stay underwater for long periods of time for recreational diving and professional diving. ... Beautiful natural scenes are common hiking destinations Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Car camping with all the comforts Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving the spending of one or more nights in a tent, primitive structure, a travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite with the purpose of getting away from civilization and enjoying nature. ... ... Skydiver about to land Parachuting, or skydiving, is a recreational activity, competitive sport and method of deployment of military personnel (and occasionally, firefighters). ... This article concerns the process of flying. ... Travel is the transport of people on a trip or journey. ...

Education

• 1979: Graduated from William Horlick High School, Racine, Wisconsin
• 1983: Received bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 1987: Received doctorate in medicine from the same school

This page refers to the year 1979. ... Racine is a city located in Racine County, Wisconsin, along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River[1]. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 81,855. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public university located in Madison, Wisconsin. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Orgranizations

• Aerospace Medical Association, Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons.

Awards

• Navy Commendation Medals (3)
• National Defense Medal
• Overseas Service Ribbon
• Posthumously awarded:
  • the NASA Space Flight Medal
  • the NASA Distinguished Service Medal
  • the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM)
  • the Congressional Space Medal of Freedom

Tributes

• Asteroid 51827 Laurelclark was named for Clark.
• Clark Hill in the Columbia Hills on Mars was named for Clark
• Clark Hall, in the Columbia Village apartments, at the Florida Institute of Technology is named after her.
• Dr. Laurel Salton Clark Memorial Fountain, in Racine, WI

An asteroid is a small, solid object in our Solar System, orbiting the Sun. ... The view of Columbia Hills from the MER-A landing site The Columbia Hills are a range of low hills inside Gusev crater on Mars. ... For the Roman god, see Mars (mythology). ... // Florida Tech Founded by Jerome P. Keuper in 1958 as Brevard Engineering College, absorbing the University of Melbourne, and changing its name to Florida Institute of Technology in 1966, Florida Tech is a growing independent technological college centered on engineering fields. ...

Experience

During medical school she did active duty training with the Diving Medicine Department at the Naval Experimental Diving Unit in March 1987. After completing medical school, Dr. Clark underwent postgraduate Medical education in Pediatrics from 1987-1988 at National Naval Medical Center, Maryland. The following year she completed Navy undersea medical officer training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute in Groton, Connecticut and diving medical officer training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida, and was designated a Radiation Health Officer and Undersea Medical Officer. She was then assigned as the Submarine Squadron Fourteen Medical Department Head in Holy Loch, Scotland. During that assignment she dove with US Navy divers and Naval Special Warfare Unit Two Seals and performed numerous medical evacuations from US submarines. After two years of operational experience she was designated as a Naval Submarine Medical Officer and Diving Medical Officer. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, also known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital, is considered the flagship of the United States Navys system of medical centers. ... Official language(s) None Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 42nd 32,160 km² 145 km 400 km 21 37°53N to 39°43N 75°4W to 79°33W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 19th 5,296,486 165... Waterfront of Groton, Connecticut looking upriver Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. ... Motto: Nickname: Map Location in Bay County, Florida Political Statistics Founded Sister Cities {{{sister cities}}} Incorporated 1909 County Bay County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Geographic Statistics Area  - Total  - Water 69. ...

Clark underwent six months of aeromedical training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida and was designated as a Naval Flight Surgeon. She was stationed at MCAS Yuma, Arizona and assigned as Flight Surgeon for a Marine Corps AV-8B Night Attack Harrier Squadron (VMA 211). She made numerous deployments, including one overseas to the Western Pacific, practiced medicine in austere environments, and flew on multiple aircraft. Her squadron won the Marine Attack Squadron of the year for its successful deployment. She was then assigned as the Group Flight Surgeon for the Marine Aircraft Group (MAG 13). Nickname: The City of Five Flags Official website: http://www. ... Yuma is a city located in Yuma county, Arizona, United States. ...

Prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate she served as a Flight Surgeon for the Naval Flight Officer advanced training squadron (VT-86) in Pensacola, Florida. Clark was Board Certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and held a Wisconsin Medical License. Her military qualifications included Radiation Health Officer, Undersea Medical Officer, Diving Medical Officer, Submarine Medical Officer, and Naval Flight Surgeon. She was a Basic Life Support Instructor, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider, Advanced Trauma Life Support Provider, and Hyperbaric Chamber Advisor.

NASA experience

Selected by NASA in April 1996, Dr. Clark reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. After completing two years of training and evaluation, she was qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. From July 1997 to August 2000 Dr. Clark worked in the Astronaut Office Payloads/Habitability Branch. Dr. Clark flew aboard STS-107, logging 15 days, 22 hours, and 20 minutes in space. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas in 1989. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The STS-107 crewmembers strike a ‘flying’ pose for their traditional in-flight crew portrait in the SPACEHAB aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. ...

Space flight experience

STS-107 Columbia (January 16 to February 1, 2003). The 16-day flight was a dedicated science and research mission. Working 24 hours a day, in two alternating shifts, the crew successfully conducted approximately eighty experiments. The STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003 when Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

According to an on-board videotape, recorded minutes before the disaster and recovered in the debris, just before her death Dr. Clark participated in what is probably the most poignant conversation in the history of spaceflight. As re-entry began, with flames already beginning to be visible through the Orbiter windows, Mission Control asked her to perform some small task. She replied that she was presently occupied but would get to it in a minute.

"Don't worry about it," she was told. "You have all the time in the world."

External links

• NASA biography
• Spacefacts biography of Laurel Clark
• Laurel Clark STS-107 Crew Memorial
• Official Memorial Website
• Letter Home from Space