Linda M. Godwin

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Linda Godwin
NASA astronaut
Time in space
38d 6h 13m
SelectionNASA Group 11 (1985)
MissionsSTS-37
STS-59
STS-76
STS-108
Mission insignia

Linda Maxine Godwin (born July 2, 1952) is an American scientist and retired NASA astronaut.[1] Godwin joined NASA in 1980 and became an astronaut in July 1986. She retired in 2010. During her career, Godwin completed four space flights and logged over 38 days in space. Godwin also served as the assistant to the director for exploration, Flight Crew Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center. Since retiring from NASA, she accepted the position of professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Missouri.[2]

Early life

Godwin was born July 2, 1952, in

Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri, in 1970, then received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics from Southeast Missouri State University in 1974, and a Master of Science degree and a Doctorate in physics from the University of Missouri
in 1976 and 1980.

Personal life

Godwin is a member of the American Physical Society, the Ninety-Nines, Inc., Association of Space Explorers, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Godwin married fellow astronaut

Steven Nagel (who had been her commander on her first spaceflight) and remained married until his death from cancer on August 21, 2014.[3]

Awards and honors

Academic experience

After completing undergraduate studies in physics and mathematics at Southeast Missouri State University, Godwin attended graduate school at the

electron tunneling and vibrational modes of absorbed molecular species on metallic substrates (surfaces) at liquid helium temperatures. Results of her research have been published in several journals.[4]

Godwin is an

pilot.[4]

NASA career

Godwin joined NASA in 1980, in the Payload Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate, where she worked in payload integration (attached payloads and Spacelabs), and as a flight controller and payloads officer on several Space Shuttle missions.

Selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in June 1985,[5] Godwin became an astronaut in July 1986.[1] Her technical assignments have included working with flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), and coordinating mission development activities for the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), deployable payloads, and Spacelab missions. She also has served as chief of astronaut appearances, chief of the Mission Development Branch of the Astronaut Office and as the astronaut liaison to its Educational Working Group, deputy chief of the Astronaut Office, and deputy director, Flight Crew Operations Directorate. Godwin is currently the assistant to the director for exploration, Flight Crew Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center.[1]

A veteran of four space flights, Godwin has logged over 38 days in space, including over ten

spacewalks. In 1991 she served as a mission specialist on STS-37, was the payload commander on STS-59 in 1994, flew on STS-76 in 1996, a Mir docking mission, and served on STS-108/International Space Station Flight UF-1 in 2001.[6]

Spaceflight experience

STS-37

Godwin (left) and her crewmates during STS-37

Godwin served as mission specialist 1 on the crew of

TV, and packet radio. Several hundred contacts were made with amateur radio operators around the world. Mission duration was 143 hours, 32 minutes, 44 seconds.[10][11]

STS-59

Godwin (center) and her crew mates on the middeck of Endeavour during STS-59

Godwin served as payload commander on the crew of STS-59.[7]: 92 

Air Pollution by Satellite) used gas filter radiometry to measure the global distribution of CO in the troposphere. Real-time crew observations of surface phenomena and climatic conditions augmented with over 14,000 photographs aided investigators in interpretation and calibration of the data. The mission concluded with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, April 20, 1994, 16:55 UTC after orbiting the Earth 183 times in 269 hours, 29 minutes.[13][14]

STS-76

Linda Godwin performing a spacewalk on STS-76

Godwin served as mission specialist 3 on the crew of STS-76.[7]: 109–110  Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B from March 22, 1996, 08:13:04 UTC. STS-76 was the third docking mission to the Russian space station

electronic camera controlled by classroom students via a Ku-band link between JSC Mission Control and the Shuttle, which uses digital photography from the Shuttle for science and education. The STS-76 mission concluded with a successful landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, March 31, 1996, 13:28:57 UTC after 145 orbits of the Earth, traveling 3,800,000 miles (6,100,000 km) in 221 hours and 15 minutes.[16][17]

STS-108

Godwin performs a spacewalk on STS-108

Godwin served as mission specialist 1 on the crew of STS-108.[7]: 160–161  Endeavour launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B 5 December 2001 22:19:28 UTC. STS-108 was the 12th shuttle flight to visit the International Space Station. Endeavour's crew delivered the Expedition-4 crew and returned the Expedition-3 crew. The crew unloaded over 4,600 pounds (2,100 kg)[18] of supplies, logistics and science experiments from the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and repacked over 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) of items no longer needed on the station for return to Earth. Godwin used the Shuttle's robotic arm to install the MPLM onto the Station Node, and participated in a spacewalk to wrap thermal blankets around ISS Solar Array Beta Gimbal Assemblies. STS-108 concluded with a successful landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility 17 December 2001 17:56:13 UTC after 185 Earth orbits, traveling 4,800,000 miles (7,700,000 km) in 283 hours and 36 minutes.[7]: 160–161 [19]

References

  1. ^
    Houston, Texas: NASA. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "MU's "Intro to Astronomy" Taught by Former Astronaut". MU News Bureau. University of Missouri. September 12, 2011. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Neuman, Scott (August 23, 2014). "Veteran Space Shuttle Astronaut Steven Nagel Dies At 67". The Two-Way. NPR. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Linda M. Godwin, 38: Atlantis astronaut". UPI Archives. United Press International. April 5, 1991. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  5. Houston, Texas: NASA. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Becker, Joachim (August 25, 2018). "Astronaut Biography: Linda Godwin". SPACEFACTS. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e Legler, Robert D.; Bennett, Floyd V. (September 2011). "Space Shuttle Missions Summary" (PDF). NTRS – NASA Technical Reports Server. Houston, Texas: NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Hill, William C.; Finkel, Seymour I. (June 14, 1994). "Mission Safety Evaluation Report for STS-37, Postflight Edition" (PDF). NTRS – NASA Technical Reports Server. NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Goddard Space Flight Center (February 1991). "The Gamma-Ray Observatory" (PDF). NTRS – NASA Technical Reports Server. NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. Houston, Texas: NASA. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Ryba, Jeanne (April 11, 2013). "STS-37". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Evans, Diane L.; Plaut, Jeffrey (April 1996). "Science Results from the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR): Progress Report" (PDF). NTRS – NASA Technical Reports Server. Pasadena, California: NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  13. Houston, Texas. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Ryba, Jeanne (November 23, 2007). "STS-59". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  15. Houston, Texas: NASA. pp. 46–49. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  16. Houston, Texas: NASA. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  17. ^ Ryba, Jeanne (November 23, 2007). "STS-76". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  18. ^ Petty, John Ira (December 12, 2001). "STS-108 Mission Control Center Status Report #15". NASA News. NASA. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  19. ^ Ryba, Jeanne (February 15, 2010). "STS-108". Mission Archives. NASA. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
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