Mary L. Cleave logged 266 hours in space, orbited Earth 172 times, and travelled 3.94 million miles during her tenure as a mission specialist. Serving the United States space program for decades, her career spanned technical engineering support, multiple shuttle missions, and leadership roles overseeing planetary science initiatives at the highest levels of the agency.
Academic and Research Background
Before joining the astronaut corps, Cleave built a rigorous foundation in environmental engineering and microbial ecology. Graduating from John L. Miller Great Neck North High School in 1965, she went on to receive a bachelor of science in Biological Sciences from Colorado State University in 1969. She later earned a master of science in 1975 and a doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1979, both from Utah State University. Between 1971 and 1980, she contributed to academic research at the Ecology Center and the Utah Water Research Laboratory. Her scientific focus included algal productivity in cold desert soils, salinity impacts on freshwater phytoplankton, and the implementation of bioassay techniques.
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Selected as an astronaut in May 1980, Cleave focused on flight software verification and crew equipment design. She served as a mission specialist on two flights of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. During STS-61-B in November 1985, she assisted in deploying three communications satellites and participated in spacewalks demonstrating station construction. The mission set a record for the heaviest payload weight carried to orbit by the shuttle at that time. In May 1989, she flew on STS-30, a four-day mission that successfully deployed the Magellan Venus-exploration spacecraft. This probe performed essential radar mapping of the Venusian surface, contributing to an improved understanding of the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field.
Leadership and Administrative Contributions
Following her active flight career, Cleave transitioned to project management and agency administration. In 1991, she joined the Goddard Space Flight Center, where she managed the SeaWiFS project, an ocean colour sensor designed for global vegetation monitoring. Her leadership continued at the executive level when she served as the Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 2005 until 2007. Throughout her professional life, she maintained memberships in organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Society for Professional Engineers, and the Association of Space Explorers.
Fast facts
- Born: 1947, Southampton, United States
- Died: November 27, 2023, Annapolis
- Education: Colorado State University; Utah State University
- NASA Career Start: May 1980
- Shuttle Missions: STS-61-B and STS-30
- Science Mission Directorate Role: 2005-2007
- Total Space Time: 10 days, 22 hours, 02 minutes, 24 seconds
- Languages: English
Questions readers ask
What scientific research did Mary L. Cleave conduct before becoming an astronaut?
She specialized in microbial ecology and civil engineering, focusing on algal productivity in desert environments, river flow maintenance for fish, and computer-based data processing for surface impoundments.
What was the objective of the STS-30 mission?
The primary objective was the deployment of the Magellan Venus-exploration spacecraft, which subsequently radar-mapped over 95% of the Venusian surface.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at Utah State University, Colorado State University and John L. Miller Great Neck North High School
- Worked as astronaut and engineer
