Connecting the Dots of History: Recognizing an Oklahoman’s contribution to the U.S. space program – Oklahoman.com

Trait Thompson and Elizabeth M. B. Bass , Special for The Oklahoman| Oklahoman

As NASA makes strides toward Mars, and private companies examine the idea of commercial space travel, it is a good time to look back at the history of human exploration of space and the significant role that Oklahomans have played in that endeavor.

The Launch to Landing: Oklahomans and Space exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center tells the stories of the intrepid Oklahomans who have impacted the exploration of space.

One such Oklahoman is Dr. Shannon Lucid.

Lucid was born in Shanghai, China, where her parents served as missionaries. Her parents later moved the family to Bethany, Oklahoma, which she considers her hometown. After graduating from Bethany High School in 1960, she attended the University of Oklahoma and earned her degree in chemistry.

Later recounting her graduate school experience she said, When I went to graduate school, they didn't want females in graduate school. They were very open about it. They didn't mince their words. But then I got in and I got my degree.

She went on get her doctorate in biochemistry from OU.

After beginning her career as a senior laboratory technician at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, she was chosen for the astronaut program in 1978. She was selected as a part of the first group of female astronauts with trailblazers such as Sally Ride, Judith Resnick and Kathryn Sullivan. In 1979 she qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on space shuttle flights.

Her first space flight was in 1985. Her last mission in 1996 delivered her to and from the Russian Mir space station, where she spent 188 days performing life science and physical science experiments.

She has logged a total of 5,354 hours in space and holds the record for the most flight hours in orbit for a woman. Over the course of her career as an astronaut, she was a part of fivedifferent missions to space, more than any other Oklahoman in the space program.

"Basically, all my life I'd been told you can't do that because you're female," Lucid said. "So I guess I just didn't pay any attention. I just went ahead and did what I could and then, when the stars aligned, I was ready.

Shannon Lucids achievements as an astronaut and scientist epitomize the Oklahoma spirit of hard work, determination innovation and exploration. We look forward to seeing how the next generation of Oklahomans make their mark in the final frontier.

Trait Thompson is executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Elizabeth Bass is the societys director of publications and editor of The Chronicles of Oklahoma. They are Connecting the Dots of history to provide a better understanding of where we have been and where we are going as a community.

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Connecting the Dots of History: Recognizing an Oklahoman's contribution to the U.S. space program - Oklahoman.com