The final mission of Laurel Clark, STS-107, concluded with the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia during re-entry on February 1, 2003. A naval captain and physician, she served as a mission specialist for NASA, contributing to a diverse scientific research agenda that spanned sixteen days in orbit before the fatal disintegration of the spacecraft over Texas.
Early Education and Naval Service
Born in Ames, Iowa, in 1961, Clark graduated from William Horlick High School in 1979. She pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a Bachelor of Science in zoology in 1983, followed by a medical degree in 1987. Her military career began with the Diving Medicine Department at the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit. She later held positions as a Submarine Squadron 14 Medical Department Head in Scotland, where she coordinated evacuations from submarines. Her qualifications expanded to include certifications as a Radiation Health Officer, Undersea Medical Officer, and Naval Flight Surgeon. Stationed with Marine Attack Squadron 211, she gained operational experience flying in various aircraft and managing medical care in austere environments.
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Selected as an astronaut candidate in April 1996, Clark reported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, that August. After two years of training, she qualified as a mission specialist. During her tenure at NASA, she focused on payloads and habitability. Her primary space flight experience aboard STS-107 involved intensive bioscience research. The crew worked in alternating shifts to execute approximately 80 distinct experiments, including studies on plant growth in microgravity. Throughout the flight, Clark maintained communication with Earth, documenting the mission through photography and digital video from the cockpit, while also noting the physiological challenges of space travel, such as a diminished sense of thirst.
Legacy and Posthumous Honours
Following the Columbia disaster, Clark was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. In 2004, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Numerous tributes have since been established to commemorate her service. Her name has been assigned to a lunar crater, an asteroid, and a geological feature on Mars. Academic and medical facilities, including the Aerospace Medicine Academic Center in Pensacola and an auditorium at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, also bear her name. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan Clark, and their son, Iain.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961, Ames
- Died: 2003, Texas
- Education: University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Military Rank: Captain
- Key Award: Congressional Space Medal of Honor (2004)
- Space Mission: STS-107
- Final Resting Place: Arlington National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the scientific focus of the STS-107 mission?
It was a 16-day dedicated science and research mission during which the crew conducted approximately 80 experiments, including bioscience studies like gardening in space.
What military qualifications did Clark hold?
She was qualified as a Naval Flight Surgeon, Radiation Health Officer, Undersea Medical Officer, Diving Medical Officer, and Submarine Medical Officer.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Wisconsin–Madison and William Horlick High School
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and physician
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