Kate Doolan

Kate Doolan (24 August 1962 - 28 January 2019) was a fan of the space program and related topics: astronauts, astronomy, cosmology, and unmanned exploration of the planets within the Solar System. She was a long-time member of the Space Association of Australia, and online social networks like Space Hipsters. She was also a fan of some science fiction, particularly Star Wars and Jurassic Park, and was an early member of the LGBT+ science fiction club, Spaced Out.
Other activism included participating in the Rainbow Sash protest, being a member of PFLAG; and serving on the committees of both the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives and the "Shout - School's Out" project (an early advocate of "Safe Schools" anti-bullying programs). Her other hobbies included books, the history of the US military, TV series South Park and The Golden Girls, the 1970s pop group ABBA, LGBT+ activism, dinosaurs and crocodiles, Calvin and Hobbes, Muttley, and her cats.
==Space Writing==
Kate's passion for the space program and, in particular, the tragedy of Apollo 1, can be seen in her writing: 
Kate wrote many articles for newspapers and magazines; and was co-author of two editions (2003 and 2016) of the definitive book, Fallen Astronauts, along with Colin Burgess and Bert Vis, which was declared by Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter to be "an important contribution to the history of space flight." Scott Carpenter, review on back cover of Burgess & Doolan & Vis, Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon, University of Nebraska Press, 2003. 
Kate's closing words in her chapter on the Apollo 1 fire in the 2016 edition of her book would ultimately be memorable for personally chilling reasons:
In another historical coincidence of which Kate would have tacitly approved, she passed away peacefully in her sleep during Astronaut Remembrance Week (going to sleep on the anniversary of Apollo 1, and passing away the following morning, on the anniversary of the Challenger disaster).
==Tributes==
Then-President of the Space Association, the late Peter Aylward, wrote in his tribute: 
Geoff Allshorn eulogised her enthusiasm for space and science: 
== Gallery==
File:Interviewing Apollo 16 astronaut John Young Nov 1987.jpg|Kate and Mark Hillyer (for the Space Association of Australia) interview Apollo 16 astronaut John Young in Melbourne, November 1987 (photo from the Helena Binns collection)
File:Dr Paul Scully-Power and Kate Doolan, 15 July 1994.jpg|Australian astronaut Dr Paul Scully-Power with Kate, Melbourne, 15 July 1994
File:Kate Doolan with Kuiper Space Plane, July 1994.jpg|Kate at the Kuiper Space Plane during its visit to Melbourne, 16 July 1994
File:Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke, 16 September 1995.jpg|Fans Kate Doolan and Geoff Allshorn meet Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke in Melbourne, 16 September 1995
File:Australian astronaut Andy Thomas and Kate Doolan, September 1996.jpg|Australian astronaut Andy Thomas with Kate, September 1996
File:ALGA 20th anniversary, 1998 .jpg|20th anniversary of the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives (now the Australian Queer Archives) in 1998 - Kate with Gary and Graham, photo by Ken Lovett
File:Kate-RSash310598.jpg|Kate Doolan prepares to attend a Rainbow Sash protest on 31 May 1998
File:KateatPride-Jan00.jpg|Kate and Geoff Allshorn at Melbourne's Pride March, January 2000
File:Kate Doolan 2001.jpg|Kate at home with Benedict, 2001
File:KatewithJSS.jpg|Kate with John Shelby Spong, Melbourne, exact date unknown (early-mid 2000s)
File:KatewithGC230105.jpg|Kate with Margarethe "Grethe" Cammermeyer, 23 January 2005
File:KD-JR.jpg|Kate meets Jeffrey Roth, producer of the space documentary, The Wonder of It All, 2007
File:KatewithAM170907.jpg|Kate with Armistead Maupin, Melbourne, 17 September 2007
File:EqualLoveRally28Nov2009.jpg|Kate at an Equal Love (Marriage Equality) Rally in Melbourne, 28 November 2009
== References ==
Category:Fans
Category:2019 Deaths
Category:Science Fiction Fandom
Category:Deceased