Astronaut Linda M. Godwin was born in Cape Girardeau on this date. She grew up in Jackson, Missouri and graduated from Jackson High School in 1970. She 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.
Godwin attended Southeast Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics in 1974. She then pursued higher education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where she received a Master of Science degree in Physics in 1976, followed by a Ph.D. in the same field in 1980.
Godwin’s career at NASA began in 1980 when she joined the Johnson Space Center as a payload flight controller and flight activities officer. Her dedication and expertise quickly propelled her through the ranks, and in 1985, she was selected as an astronaut candidate. Godwin completed her training in 1986, officially becoming an astronaut and embarking on a distinguished career in space exploration.
Over her career, Linda Godwin participated in four Space Shuttle missions, logging over 38 days in space. Her first flight was STS-37 in 1991, where she served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, contributing to the deployment of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Godwin’s subsequent missions included STS-59 in 1994, STS-76 in 1996, and STS-108 in 2001. During these missions, she played vital roles in scientific research, spacewalks, and the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station.
Beyond her spaceflights, Linda Godwin contributed significantly to NASA’s mission as the Assistant Director for Exploration in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate at Johnson Space Center. She also served as the Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office and took on various leadership roles within NASA. Godwin retired from NASA in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of scientific achievement and dedication to space exploration. Her career has inspired many, highlighting the importance of perseverance, education, and the relentless pursuit of one’s dreams.
