Anna Lee Fisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Fisher
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Fisher in 2002
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Anna Lee Tingle
August 24, 1949 Albany, New York, U.S.
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Time in space
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7d 23h 45m |
| Selection | NASA Group 8 (1978) |
| Missions | STS-51-A |
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Mission insignia
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Anna Fisher (born August 24, 1949) is an American chemist, emergency physician, and a former NASA astronaut. She was married to fellow astronaut Bill Fisher. In 1984, she made history as the first mother to fly in space.
During her time at NASA, Anna Fisher worked on three big space projects: the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station (ISS), and the Orion spacecraft. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, she earned a degree in chemistry in 1971. Later, she went to medical school at UCLA and became a doctor in 1976. She then specialized in emergency medicine.
In January 1978, Fisher was chosen to be an astronaut. She was part of NASA Astronaut Group 8, which was the first group of astronauts to include women. She helped test the Canadarm, a robotic arm used on the Space Shuttle. She also helped with spacewalk procedures. She flew into space on the Space Shuttle Discovery in November 1984. During this mission, she used the Canadarm to grab two satellites that were stuck in the wrong orbits.
After taking time off to raise her family from 1989 to 1995, Fisher returned to NASA. She worked on training and procedures for the International Space Station. She also worked as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM), which means she was the voice connecting mission control to astronauts in space. She helped develop displays for the Orion spacecraft until she retired from NASA in April 2017.
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Becoming an Astronaut: Anna Fisher's Journey
Anna Lee Tingle was born in Albany, New York, on August 24, 1949. Her mother was from Germany and served in the German military during World War II. Anna grew up moving often because her father was in the U.S. Army. She learned to speak German fluently.
Early Dreams of Space
In 1961, when Anna was in seventh grade, her teacher brought a radio to class. They listened as Alan Shepard became the first American in space. This moment made Anna dream of becoming an astronaut. At that time, all astronauts were military test pilots, a job women couldn't do. But Anna thought that by the time she was old enough, there would be space stations, and they would need doctors.
She volunteered at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in California during high school. She never gave up on her dream of space. After graduating from San Pedro High School in 1967, she went to UCLA. She first studied math but then switched to chemistry, earning her degree in 1971. She also did graduate studies in chemistry.
From Chemistry to Medicine
Anna decided that there weren't many jobs for chemists with advanced degrees. So, she chose to study medicine instead. In 1976, she received her medical degree from UCLA. At that time, few women were in medical school. She completed her internship at Harbor General Hospital in 1977. There, she met Bill Fisher, who was also an intern and hoped to fly in space. Anna decided to specialize in emergency medicine.
Joining NASA: A Dream Comes True
In June 1977, Anna's fiancé, Bill, learned that NASA was looking for new astronauts, including doctors. Both Anna and Bill applied. Anna sent her application just before the deadline. NASA received over 8,000 applications and invited 208 people for interviews.
A Wedding and an Astronaut Selection
Anna and Bill moved their wedding date forward. They got married on August 23, 1977, the day before Anna's interview week at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. She changed her last name to Fisher. During her interview, Anna was asked if she wanted to have children. She said yes, within the next five years.
In January 1978, Anna Fisher received a call from George Abbey, a NASA official. He told her she had been chosen as part of NASA Astronaut Group 8. This was a huge moment! At the same time, Bill learned he had not been selected. Anna and Bill moved to Houston. Anna took a big pay cut to become an astronaut, but she said, "To be an astronaut, I was willing to pay them."
Astronaut Training and Skills
The new astronauts were called "astronaut candidates" until they finished their training. For the first eight months, they spent a lot of time in classrooms. They also had water survival training and parasail training.
Astronauts also learned to fly NASA's T-38 Talon jet aircraft. Mission specialists like Fisher didn't have to be pilots, but they needed to know how to handle an emergency. Fisher took private flying lessons and flew solo for the first time in November 1978. To keep her medical skills sharp, she worked in an emergency room one weekend a month. She also stayed fit by running, lifting weights, and playing racquetball.
In August 1979, Fisher completed her training. NASA then announced they were looking for more astronauts. Bill applied again. This time, he was accepted into NASA Astronaut Group 9. This made Anna and Bill the first married couple to be selected for astronaut training!
Designing Spacesuits and Shuttle Support
After her basic training, Fisher helped design spacesuits for women. She worked on a smaller version of the "Hard Upper Torso" (HUT), which is the top part of the suit. She even wore an old space suit that was too big for her to test tools underwater for spacewalks. However, NASA decided it was too expensive to make small suits. Instead, they limited spacewalks to astronauts who fit medium or large suits.
Fisher also worked on ways to repair the Space Shuttle tiles. She helped develop and test the Canadarm robotic arm. For the first four Space Shuttle missions, she was part of the search and rescue teams. She also helped test the flight software for the Shuttle. She was a "Cape Crusader," meaning she helped test the Shuttle and its payloads at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
STS-51-A: The First Mother in Space
In late 1982, while working at KSC, Fisher became pregnant. She wanted to have children and didn't know when she would get a flight assignment. She continued to fly in NASA jets until she was four and a half months pregnant. Then, she had to fly on commercial planes, which was less convenient. Four months later, NASA assigned her to a flight. This meant she would be the first mother to fly in space! Her daughter, Kristin Anne, was born on July 29, 1983. Anna was back at work just a few days later.
Preparing for a Unique Mission
The public learned about Fisher's mission, STS-41-G, in September 1983. The mission was planned for August 1984. As the flight engineer, Fisher would sit behind the commander and pilot, helping them during launch, landing, and in space. Fisher also worked as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for another mission, STS-9.
In early 1984, two satellites launched by a previous Space Shuttle mission got stuck in the wrong orbits. NASA decided to try and rescue them. Fisher's crew was reassigned to this new mission, called STS-51-A. This would be the fourteenth Space Shuttle flight. NASA wanted to show they could fix problems in space.
The Satellite Rescue Mission
Engineers and astronauts came up with a plan to capture the satellites using a device called a "stinger." Astronaut Joseph P. Allen would use a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) to fly to the satellite and put the stinger inside its rocket nozzle. The stinger would open up and grab the satellite. The stinger had a special handle that Fisher would grab with the Canadarm. She would then move the satellite into the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Allen and Dale Gardner would then secure the satellite.
Fisher designed the mission patch. It had six stars: five for the crew and one for her daughter, Kristin. Reporters asked her how she felt about leaving her child. She pointed out that the men on her flight were also leaving their children. Before the flight, she recorded videos for Kristin, just in case she didn't return.
Discovery launched on November 8, 1984. Once in orbit, Fisher checked the robotic arm. Like many astronauts, she felt sick from space adaptation syndrome for a few days. On the second day, the crew launched a Canadian communications satellite. The next day, they launched a U.S. Navy satellite.
On the fifth day, Discovery met up with the first satellite to be recovered, Palapa B2. Allen flew to the satellite and grabbed it. Fisher used the Canadarm to grapple it. But the clamp to secure it didn't fit. The crew, without talking to mission control, came up with a new plan. Fisher released the grapple, and Allen stood on the Canadarm. Fisher moved the arm so Allen could manually push the satellite. Gardner then attached the clamp. The satellite was successfully retrieved! The next day, they repeated the process and retrieved the second satellite, Westar VI.
Discovery landed on November 16, 1984. The flight lasted almost 8 days. It had completed 127 orbits around Earth.
For their amazing work, the crew received a silver medal from Lloyd's of London, an insurance company. This medal is given for saving property from danger. Fisher was also named "national mother of the year" in 1985.
After the Challenger Disaster
After the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in January 1986, Fisher worked on improving safety and procedures for astronauts. She helped with the selection of new astronauts in 1987. She also worked on the Space Station Support Office, helping with training and operations for the future International Space Station.
In 1987, UCLA awarded Fisher her Master of Science degree in chemistry. She had completed the coursework earlier but had not officially received the degree.
Time Off and Return to NASA
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Anna Fisher had a second daughter, Kara Lynne, in 1989. Kara was born after both her parents had flown in space! From 1989 to 1995, Fisher took a break from NASA to raise her family.
When Fisher returned to NASA in 1995, she worked on procedures and training for the International Space Station (ISS). She became chief of the Operations Planning Branch and later deputy chief for operations training. She also served as chief of the Space Station Branch, helping with the design and testing of ISS hardware.
From 2011 to 2013, Fisher was a CAPCOM again. She was the lead CAPCOM for ISS Expedition 33. She also helped develop the flight displays for the Orion project until she retired in April 2017.
Public Life and Recognition
Anna Fisher often made public appearances, speaking to visitors at NASA centers and attending special events. She and Bill even appeared on Good Morning America with their daughter Kristin in 1983. She was also featured in magazines like The Saturday Evening Post and Redbook. In 2018, Fisher christened the Viking Orion cruise ship, named after the Orion constellation and the NASA Orion spacecraft she worked on.
Awards and Honors
- National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship (1970, 1971)
- NASA Space Flight Medal (1984)
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1988, 1998)
- Lloyd's of London Silver Medal for Meritorious Salvage Operations (1985)
- Mother of the Year Award (1985)
- UCLA Professional Achievement Award (1986)
- UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry Alumni Award (2012)
Images for kids
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Anna and Bill Fisher with their baby daughter Kristin Ann.
See also
In Spanish: Anna Lee Fisher para niños
