Judith Resnik

Judith Resnik
Name	Judith Resnik
Birth date	April 5, 1949
Birth place	Akron, Ohio
Death date	January 28, 1986
Death place	Cape Canaveral, Florida
Occupation	Electrical engineer, Naval officer, NASA astronaut
Alma mater	Carnegie Mellon University, University of Maryland, College Park

Judith Resnik Judith Resnik was an American electrical engineer, United States Navy contractor and NASA mission specialist who became the second American woman in space and the first Jewish American astronaut. Resnik flew aboard STS-41-D and STS-51-L, and she was among the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Her career bridged work at General Electric, engagement with the Department of Defense, and advanced research in electrical engineering and computer science.

Early life and education

Resnik was born in Akron, Ohio, and raised in a family with roots in Eastern Europe and participation in local Jewish community institutions. She attended Firestone High School (Akron, Ohio) before enrolling at Carnegie Mellon University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering; during that time she interacted with faculty associated with Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and peers from programs linked to NASA centers. She continued graduate studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, completing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science while collaborating with researchers connected to National Institutes of Health and contractors who supported Aerospace Corporation projects.

Naval and engineering career

Following graduate school, Resnik worked as an engineer at General Electric’s aerospace division, contributing to projects tied to Bell Labs and subcontractors for the United States Navy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She became a contract researcher for the Naval Sea Systems Command and worked on fault-tolerant computer systems relevant to Apollo program heritage and emerging Space Shuttle avionics. Her technical responsibilities involved interaction with teams from IBM, Honeywell, Rockwell International, and government laboratories such as Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

NASA selection and astronaut training

Resnik was selected in NASA’s 1978 astronaut class, joining a group that included contemporaries from John Glenn’s era and new recruits who trained alongside candidates from Soviet space program interlocutors during later cooperative ventures. Her astronaut training at Johnson Space Center covered systems training on Orbiter Vehicle hardware, simulators maintained by Rockwell International, and mission operations coordination with Mission Control Center teams led by flight directors who had worked on Skylab and Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. Resnik trained with crewmates experienced in EVA procedures, shuttle robotics operations associated with the Canadarm, and payload operations for experiments sponsored by National Science Foundation and international partners such as European Space Agency researchers.

Space Shuttle missions

Resnik served as a mission specialist on the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-41-D, flying with a crew that included pilots and mission specialists whom she had trained with at Ellington Field and Kennedy Space Center. On STS-41-D she operated payloads and documented experiments linked to NOAA and Department of Defense payloads. Her second flight, STS-51-L aboard Challenger (OV-099), included a manifest with a diverse set of objectives involving satellite deployment for commercial firms, educational initiatives associated with Christa McAuliffe, and experiments sponsored by Smithsonian Institution and university partners. The mission ended tragically with the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster shortly after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center, resulting in the loss of Resnik and her six crewmates.

Personal life and advocacy

Resnik maintained connections with academic communities at Carnegie Mellon University and University of Maryland, College Park, participating in outreach with organizations such as Association for Women in Science and mentoring students who later worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center. She was known among colleagues for advocacy of increased participation by women and Jewish Americans in aerospace fields, speaking at events hosted by American Association of University Women, Society of Women Engineers, and local chapters of Hadassah. Resnik enjoyed photography and engaged with cultural institutions including the Museum of Modern Art and regional art programs near Akron, Ohio.

Legacy and honors

Resnik’s legacy is preserved through memorials and honors established by institutions where she studied and worked, including tributes at Carnegie Mellon University, the National Air and Space Museum, and memorials at Arlington National Cemetery and facilities at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Posthumous recognitions include induction into halls honoring astronauts and engineers associated with NASA, commemorative plaques by National Aeronautic Association, and scholarships funded by alumni groups at University of Maryland, College Park and Akron, Ohio organizations. Buildings, awards, and educational programs—many coordinated with partners such as Smithsonian Institution and NASA Educational Programs—continue to cite her contributions to Space Shuttle operations and to efforts expanding diversity in aerospace.

Category:1949 births Category:1986 deaths Category:American astronauts Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni