Margaret Rhea Seddon
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| Margaret Rhea Seddon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Margaret Rhea Seddon |
| Caption | Seddon in NASA portrait |
| Type | NASA Astronaut |
| Nationality | American |
| Status | Retired |
| Birth name | Margaret Rhea Seddon |
| Birth date | 8 November 1947 |
| Birth place | Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Selection | 1978 NASA Group |
| Time | 17d 02h 34m |
| Mission | STS-51-D, STS-40, STS-58 |
Margaret Rhea Seddon is an American surgeon and former NASA astronaut. A member of the pioneering 1978 astronaut class, she was one of the first six women selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps. Seddon flew on three Space Shuttle missions, contributing significantly to Spacelab life sciences research, and later served as Assistant Chief Medical Officer of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Early life and education
Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Seddon was inspired by early Project Mercury missions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in physiology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1970. She then received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 1973. Seddon completed her surgical residency at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and was in private practice when selected by NASA.
NASA career
Selected as a mission specialist in January 1978, Seddon was part of the first class to include women. Her initial technical assignments included supporting the first Space Shuttle flights and serving on the STS-1 launch support team at the Kennedy Space Center. She worked extensively on Spacelab experiment development and crew procedures, with a focus on medical and life sciences payloads. Seddon also served as a CAPCOM (capsule communicator) in Mission Control for several shuttle missions.
Spaceflight experience
Seddon logged over 722 hours in space across three shuttle missions. Her first flight was aboard STS-51-D on the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 1985, a mission that deployed the Syncom IV-3 satellite and conducted medical experiments. She served as a mission specialist on STS-40 (Spacelab Life Sciences 1) aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia in June 1991, the first dedicated life sciences lab mission. Her final flight was as a payload commander on STS-58 (Spacelab Life Sciences 2) aboard Space Shuttle Columbia in October 1993, which set a record for the longest shuttle mission at the time and conducted extensive research on physiological adaptation to microgravity.
Post-NASA career and legacy
After leaving NASA in 1997, Seddon joined the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, as Assistant Chief Medical Officer. She played a key role in developing the Vanderbilt Medical Group and later worked on healthcare quality initiatives. Her legacy is marked by her pioneering role for women in the United States space program and her contributions to space medicine. She has been inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Seddon is married to fellow astronaut Robert L. Gibson. They have two children. Her interests include flying, sailing, and hiking. She remains an advocate for STEM education and frequently speaks about her experiences in the Space Shuttle program.
Category:American astronauts Category:NASA astronauts Category:1947 births Category:Living people