LAUREL BLAIR SALTON CLARK, M.D. (CAPTAIN, USN)

NASA ASTRONAUT (DECEASED)

PERSONAL DATA: Born in Iowa, but considered Racine, Wisconsin, to be her 

hometown. Died on February 1, 2003 over the southern United States when Space 

Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled 

landing. She is survived by her husband and their child. Laurel enjoyed scuba diving, 

hiking, camping, biking, parachuting, flying, traveling. 

EDUCATION: Graduated from William Horlick High School, Racine Wisconsin in 

1979; received bachelor of science degree in zoology from the University of WisconsinMadison in 1983 and doctorate in medicine from the same school in 1987. 

ORGANIZATIONS: Aerospace Medical Association, Society of U.S. Naval Flight 

Surgeons.

AWARDS: Posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the 

NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM). 

Recipient of Navy Commendation Medals (3); National Defense Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon. 

EXPERIENCE: During medical school she did active duty training with the Diving Medicine Department at the Naval 

Experimental Diving Unit in March 1987. After completing medical school, Dr. Clark underwent postgraduate Medical education 

in Pediatrics from 1987-1988 at Naval Hospital Bethesda, Maryland. The following year she completed Navy undersea medical 

officer training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute in Groton Connecticut and diving medical officer training at the Naval 

Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida, and was designated a Radiation Health Officer and Undersea Medical 

Officer. She was then assigned as the Submarine Squadron Fourteen Medical Department Head in Holy Loch Scotland. During that 

assignment she dove with US Navy divers and Naval Special Warfare Unit Two Seals and performed numerous medical evacuations 

from US submarines. After two years of operational experience she was designated as a Naval Submarine Medical Officer and 

Diving Medical Officer. She underwent 6 months of aeromedical training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, 

Florida and was designated as a Naval Flight Surgeon. She was stationed at MCAS Yuma, Arizona and assigned as Flight Surgeon

for a Marine Corps AV-8B Night Attack Harrier Squadron (VMA 211). She made numerous deployments, including one overseas 

to the Western Pacific, practiced medicine in austere environments, and flew on multiple aircraft. Her squadron won the Marine 

Attack Squadron of the year for its successful deployment. She was then assigned as the Group Flight Surgeon for the Marine 

Aircraft Group (MAG 13). Prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate she served as a Flight Surgeon for the Naval Flight 

Officer advanced training squadron (VT-86) in Pensacola, Florida. Clark was Board Certified by the National Board of Medical 

Examiners and held a Wisconsin Medical License. Her military qualifications included Radiation Health Officer, Undersea Medical 

Officer, Diving Medical Officer, Submarine Medical Officer, and Naval Flight Surgeon. She was a Basic Life Support Instructor, 

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider, Advanced Trauma Life Support Provider, and Hyperbaric Chamber Advisor. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in April 1996, Dr. Clark reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. 

After completing two years of training and evaluation, she was qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. From July 

1997 to August 2000 Dr. Clark worked in the Astronaut Office Payloads/Habitability Branch. Dr. Clark flew aboard STS-107, 

logging 15 days, 22 hours, and 20 minutes in space.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-107 Columbia (January 16 to February 1, 2003). The 16-day flight was a dedicated 

science and research mission. Working 24 hours a day, in two alternating shifts, the crew successfully conducted approximately 

80 experiments. The STS-107 mission ended abruptly on February 1, 2003 when Space Shuttle Columbia and the crew perished 

during entry, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. 

MAY 2004

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Biographical Data

 Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

 Houston, Texas 77058