Famous Queens Resident Series, Part IV

Ellen S. Baker (M.D., M.P.H.)
LEAD Astronaut for Medical Issues
AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Johnson Space Center

PERSONAL DATA: Born April 27, 1953, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but considers New York City her hometown. Married to Kenneth J. Baker. They have two daughters. She enjoys swimming, skiing, running, movies, music, and reading. Ellen’s parents, Dr. & Mrs. Melvin Shulman, reside in Beechhurst, New York. Ken’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. James Baker, reside in Columbus, Ohio.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Bayside High School, New York, New York, in 1970; received a bachelor of arts degree in geology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1974, a doctorate of medicine degree from Cornell University in 1978, and a masters in public health from University of Texas School of Public Health in 1994.

EXPERIENCE: After completing medical school, Dr. Baker trained in internal medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. In 1981, after three years of training, she was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

NASA EXPERIENCE: In 1981, following her residency, Dr. Baker joined NASA as a medical officer at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. That same year, she graduated from the Air Force Aerospace Medicine Course at Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate she served as a physician in the Flight Medicine Clinic at the Johnson Space Center.

Selected by NASA in May 1984, Dr. Baker became an astronaut in June 1985. Since then, she has worked a variety of jobs at NASA in support of the Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs and development of the Exploration Program. A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Baker has logged over 686 hours in space. She was a mission specialist on STS-34 in 1989, STS-50 in 1992, and STS-71 in 1995. Currently, Dr. Baker is the Lead Astronaut for Medical Issues and Education Programs.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-34 Atlantis (October 18-23, 1989) launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. During the mission, the crew successfully deployed the Galileo to explore Jupiter, operated the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Instrument (SSBUV) to map atmospheric ozone, conducted several medical experiments, and numerous scientific experiments. Mission objectives were accomplished in 79 orbits of the Earth, traveling 1.8 million miles in 119 hours and 41 minutes.

STS-50 Columbia (June 25-July 9, 1992) launched and landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. STS-50 was the first flight of the United States Microgravity Laboratory and the first Extended Duration Orbiter flight. Over a two-week period, the crew conducted scientific experiments involving crystal growth, fluid physics, fluid dynamics, biological science, and combustion science. Mission objectives were accomplished in 221 orbits of the Earth, traveling 5.7 million miles in 331 hours 30 seconds and 4 minutes in space.

STS-71 Atlantis (June 27-July 7, 1995) launched from the Kennedy Space Center with a seven-member crew and returned there with an eight-member crew. STS-71 was the first Space Shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir, and involved an exchange of crews. The Atlantis Space Shuttle was modified to carry a docking system compatible with the Russian Mir Space Station. It also carried a Spacelab module in the payload bay in which the crew performed various life sciences experiments and data collections. Mission accomplished in 153 orbits of the Earth, traveling 4.1 million miles in 235 hours and 23 minutes.

Courtesy of www.nasa.gov