Linda M. Godwin

Linda M. Godwin – Life, Career, and Contributions in Space


Explore the life and legacy of Linda M. Godwin — the American physicist-astronaut who flew four Space Shuttle missions, conducted EVAs, and later taught the next generation of scientists.

Introduction

Linda Maxine Godwin (born July 2, 1952) is an American scientist, retired NASA astronaut, and educator known for her important contributions in human spaceflight and physics. Over her NASA career, she completed four Space Shuttle missions, spent over 38 days in space, and performed extravehicular activities (spacewalks).

After retiring from NASA in 2010, Godwin transitioned into academia, serving as a professor (and later emeritus) in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Missouri, where she continued mentoring students and engaging in outreach.

Godwin’s career exemplifies the synergy between deep scientific training and the demands of human space exploration. Her path offers lessons in persistence, interdisciplinary capability, and the evolving role of astronauts as both explorers and educators.

Early Life and Family

Linda Godwin was born on July 2, 1952 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, but was raised in Jackson, Missouri. Jackson High School in 1970.

Details of her family background are more private, but her upbringing in Missouri placed her close to home, community, and the natural curiosity that would later drive her scientific pursuits.

Education & Early Scientific Career

Godwin showed early affinity for science and mathematics, which guided her academic trajectory:

  • Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, Southeast Missouri State University, 1974

  • Master of Science in Physics, University of Missouri, 1976

  • Ph.D. in Physics, University of Missouri, 1980

Her doctoral research focused on low-temperature condensed matter physics, including investigations such as electron tunneling and vibrational modes of molecular species absorbed on metallic substrates at very low (cryogenic) temperatures.

During her graduate years, she also taught undergraduate physics labs and served as a research assistant, gaining hands-on experience in both teaching and experimental work.

NASA Career & Astronaut Selection

Joining NASA and Early Roles

Godwin joined NASA in 1980, entering the Payload Operations Division, Mission Operations Directorate. In that role she worked on payload integration, as a flight controller, and as a payloads officer in the Mission Control Center supporting Shuttle missions.

Before being selected as an astronaut, she applied but was initially unsuccessful in earlier astronaut candidate groups (Groups 9 and 10) before finally being selected in June 1985 as part of NASA Astronaut Group 11.

She officially became an astronaut in July 1986 after completion of training.

During her NASA career, she held numerous support and leadership roles:

  • Work with flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL)

  • Coordination of mission development activities (e.g. Inertial Upper Stage, deployable payloads, Spacelab missions)

  • Positions in the Astronaut Office, such as Chief of Mission Development Branch, liaison to educational working groups, Deputy Chief of Astronaut Office, Deputy Director in the Flight Crew Operations Directorate, and later Assistant to the Director for Exploration, Flight Crew Operations at Johnson Space Center.

Godwin also became an instrument-rated private pilot, which is a common trait among many astronauts who seek familiarity with aircraft operations.

Spaceflight Missions & EVA Experience

Linda Godwin flew on four Space Shuttle missions, each with distinct objectives and contributions. 38 days in space (approximately 38d 6h 13m) and conducted two spacewalks (total EVA time ~10h 14m)

Here’s a summary of her missions:

MissionRole / NotesHighlights
STS-37 (1991)Mission SpecialistLaunched April 5, 1991; deployed the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory; performed experiments and handled middeck tasks; returned April 11, 1991. STS-59 (1994)Payload Commander / Mission SpecialistPart of the Space Radar Laboratory mission (SRL) with instruments like SIR-C/X-SAR and CO sensor to study Earth’s atmosphere and surface. STS-76 (1996)Mission SpecialistDocked with the Russian Mir space station. In this mission, Godwin and astronaut Michael Clifford conducted a ~6-hour spacewalk (EVA) to mount environmental experiment packages on Mir’s docking module. It was one of the first U.S. EVAs while docked to a station. STS-108 (2001)Mission SpecialistMission to the International Space Station (ISS). Godwin used the Shuttle’s robotic arm to install the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) and conducted a spacewalk to wrap thermal blankets on solar array gimbal assemblies.

Her role on these missions ranged from deploying science observatories, executing Earth observation and radar mapping, supporting station docking operations, to performing EVAs and handling robotic arm operations.

Notably, she was among the first women to perform spacewalks outside both the Mir and ISS environments.

Later Roles, Retirement & Academic Career

Linda Godwin officially retired from NASA in August 2010.

After retirement, she became a full-time professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Missouri (Columbia) for about eight years, teaching courses in physics, astronomy, and supervising undergraduate research.

Eventually, she became Professor Emeritus and continued in adjunct roles or outreach, balancing her academic life with involvement in NASA advisory committees.

Even after leaving active astronaut duties, Godwin stayed connected to space exploration as a liaison, educator, and mentor, helping bridge the scientific community and public understanding.

Legacy & Influence

Linda Godwin’s contributions have multiple dimensions:

  1. Scientific-astronaut model: Her strong grounding in physics and mathematics allowed her to operate fluently between research and operational environments — a model of how domain expertise supports human spaceflight.

  2. Pioneering EVA roles: As one of the first women to perform EVAs on both Mir and ISS missions, she helped break barriers and expand operational capabilities for women in space.

  3. International cooperation: Through missions like STS-76 docking with Mir and STS-108 to ISS, Godwin participated in key moments of U.S.–Russia and multinational space collaboration.

  4. Education & mentorship: Her post-NASA career amplifies her legacy, influencing future scientists, inspiring students, and fostering public interest in space and physics.

  5. Institutional leadership: Her roles within NASA (Astronaut Office leadership, training, mission development, CAPCOM, exploration planning) shaped how missions and crews were developed and managed.

While she may not be as publicly famous as some astronauts, her career is admired within the astronaut corps, and her dual impact in science and human spaceflight cements her as a respected figure.

Personality, Interests & Skills

Though personal details are limited in public sources, some features emerge:

  • Musical interests: She plays saxophone and clarinet as hobbies.

  • Flying & aviation affinity: Beyond being a private pilot, she has a strong interest in aviation.

  • Curiosity & perseverance: Her path included application rejections before success, and her transition from ground roles to astronaut status shows determination.

  • Calm under pressure: Operating in space, during EVAs, robotic arm tasks, and mission-critical scenarios demands composure — her reputation suggests she handled that well.

  • Mentorship mindset: Her post-NASA teaching and outreach show she values education, science communication, and supporting the next generation.

Selected Quotes

Here are several quotes or remarks attributed to Linda Godwin that shed light on her perspective:

  • “In the Astronaut Office we’re never totally out of training, we always keep our hand in it. But after five years, things have changed and so it’s been good to get back into the flow and relearn a lot of things.”

  • “We launch when we're kind of in the same orbit that they are … we’re just in a little different altitude” (on rendezvous and docking)

  • “It is a very busy mission: every day has some major goals that we have to get through, but … in the evening … you kind of take a deep breath and look around where you are and have some downtime.”

  • “We’re taking up some science experiments … we bring the old ones home … we have a lot of clothing, we have a lot of food — U.S. and Russian food.”

These quotes reveal her grounded perspective on mission life, the importance of training, and the human side of long-duration missions.

Lessons from Linda M. Godwin’s Journey

Linda Godwin’s path offers numerous insights:

  1. Interdisciplinary strength matters. Deep scientific training provides a foundation for operating in complex, high-stakes environments like space.

  2. Persistence through rejection. Her initial applications to astronaut groups failed, but she kept trying and built credentials until acceptance.

  3. Bridging roles amplify impact. Serving both as an operator (astronaut) and educator (professor) allowed her to shape multiple generations.

  4. Women in space pave the way. Her EVA roles and mission leadership help normalize and expand opportunities for women in human spaceflight.

  5. Lifelong learning & adaptation. Even after years in space operations, she continued evolving, taking on new technical and instructional challenges.

Conclusion

Linda Maxine Godwin stands as a profiled example of how scientific expertise, technical skill, and human determination intersect in the careers of astronauts. She navigated roles in mission operations, spaceflight, EVA, robotics, and then transitioned to academia — a rare and valuable arc.

Her story isn’t just about the flights or the hours in orbit; it’s about building bridges between science and human exploration, between the classroom and the cosmos. Godwin’s legacy continues to inspire aspiring scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts to see how rigorous academic paths can converge with the stars.

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