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Shannon Lucid PH.D.
Chief Scientist, NASA Headquarters

Shannon Lucid Ph.D.Dr. Shannon Lucid began her life in Shanghai, China, but spent her childhood in Bethany, Oklahoma. Dr. Lucid’s impressive career began after she received both her Masters degree and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma, by 1973. Most of her career before joining NASA was spent as a research scientist.

In 1978, the year she was chosen for the astronaut training program, Lucid was working as a research associate at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. As a qualified Mission Specialist, she has logged more space flight hours than any other woman in the world, and holds the international record for most hours in orbit by a non-Russian. She also took the United States’ single space mission endurance record in 1996, when she spent 188 days on the space station MIR, conducting numerous valuable experiments for the advancement of space science research. She authored an article for Scientific America, documenting her time on the space station, titled “Six months on MIR,” which can be found in the May of 1998 issue.


After completing her flight career, Lucid began serving as Spacecraft communicator to support International Space Station, as well as space shuttle missions, from the ground. Lucid is a seasoned pilot with commercial, instrument, and multi-engine pilot ratings, and enjoys spending her free time in the air. In February of last year, her already impressive resume took on another entry when she was named NASA’s Chief Scientist. For the past year she has been ensuring the scientific credibility of the agency’s proposed programs, and overseeing scientific research. In addition, she plays a major role in developing the space agency’s science and research objectives and communicating those goals, projects, and discoveries to the public.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in January 1978, Dr. Lucid became an astronaut in August 1979. She is qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle flight crews. Some of her technical assignments have included: the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); the Flight Software Laboratory, in Downey, California, working with the rendezvous and proximity operations group; Astronaut Office interface at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, participating in payload testing, Shuttle testing, and launch countdowns; spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in the JSC Mission Control Center during numerous Space Shuttle missions; Chief of Mission Support; Chief of Astronaut Appearances. A veteran of five space flights, Dr. Lucid has logged 5,354 hours (223 days) in space. She served as a mission specialist on STS-51G (June 17-24, 1985), STS-34 (October 18-23, 1989), STS-43 (August 2-11, 1991), STS-58 (October 18 to November 1, 1993), and most recently served as a Board Engineer 2 on Russia’s Space Station Mir (launching March 22, 1996 aboard STS-76 and returning September 26, 1996 aboard STS-79). Dr. Lucid holds an international record for the most flight hours in orbit by any non-Russian, and holds the record for the most flight hours in orbit by any woman in the world. In February 2002, Dr. Lucid was selected as NASA’s Chief Scientist. She will be stationed at NASA Headquarters, Washington D.C., with responsibility for developing and communicating the agency’s science and research objectives to the outside world.

STS-43 Atlantis (August 2-11, 1991) was a nine-day mission during which the crew deployed the fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-E). The crew also conducted 32 physical, material, and life science experiments, mostly relating to the Extended Duration Orbiter and Space Station Freedom. The mission was accomplished in 142 orbits of the Earth, traveling 3.7 million miles in 213 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds. STS-43 Atlantis was the eighth Space Shuttle to land at KSC).
STS-58 Columbia (October 18 to November 1, 1993). This record duration fourteen-day mission was recognized by NASA management as the most successful and efficient Spacelab flight flown by NASA. The STS-58 crew performed neurovestibular, cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary, metabolic, and musculoskeletal medical experiments on themselves and 48 rats, expanding our knowledge of human and animal physiology both on earth and in space flight. In addition, they performed 16 engineering tests aboard the Orbiter Columbia and 20 Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project experiments. The mission was accomplished in 225 orbits of the Earth, traveling 5.8 million miles in 336 hours, 13 minutes, 01 seconds. Landing was at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In completing this flight Dr. Lucid logged 838 hours, 54 minutes in space making her America’s female space traveler with the most hours in space.

Dr. Lucid currently holds the United States single mission space flight endurance record on the Russian Space Station Mir. Following a year of training in Star City, Russia, her journey started with liftoff at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on March 22, 1996 aboard STS-76 Atlantis. Following docking, she transferred to the Mir Space Station. Assigned as a Board Engineer 2, she performed numerous life science and physical science experiments during the course of her stay aboard Mir. Her return journey to KSC was made aboard STS-79 Atlantis on September 26, 1996. In completing this mission Dr. Lucid traveled 75.2 million miles in 188 days, 04 hours, 00 minutes, 14 seconds.

Cathy Shields, PR Chair
321-264-8581
Cathleen.e.shields@boeing.com

Amelia Woodbridge, PR Co-Chair
321-724-1688
awoodbridge@spacecoastmarketing.com

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