Yvonne Cagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne Cagle
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Cagle in 2004
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Yvonne Darlene Cagle
April 24, 1959 West Point, New York, U.S.
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Colonel, USAF |
| Selection | NASA Group 16 (1996) |
| Retirement | 2008 |
Yvonne Darlene Cagle, born on April 24, 1959, is an amazing American doctor and professor. She used to be a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and is also a NASA astronaut. Dr. Cagle became a NASA astronaut in 1996. She is one of only six African American women who have become astronauts.
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Early Life and Education
Yvonne Cagle was born in West Point, New York. She finished high school at Novato High School in Novato, California. She then went to San Francisco State University, where she earned a degree in biochemistry in 1981.
After that, she studied at the University of Washington. In 1985, she earned her medical degree there. Dr. Cagle also completed special training in aerospace medicine. This training helps doctors understand how space travel affects the human body.
Serving in the U.S. Air Force
Before becoming an astronaut, Dr. Cagle had a successful career in the United States Air Force. She worked as a medical officer, helping to keep service members healthy. In 1989, she helped with the STS-30 mission. This mission was important for testing the Magellan spacecraft.
From 1994 to 1996, she worked as a medical doctor at NASA's health clinic. She retired from the Air Force in 2008, holding the rank of Colonel.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
In 1996, Dr. Cagle was chosen by NASA to become an astronaut. She was part of the 16th group of astronauts selected by NASA. This was a big step in her career.
Exploring Space Missions
Even though Dr. Cagle trained as an astronaut, she never flew into space on a mission. However, she was involved in many important projects. In 2013, she was part of the backup crew for a project called HI-SEAS. This project studied how to keep astronauts healthy during long trips to Mars or the Moon.
Work at NASA and Beyond
Dr. Cagle became a NASA Management Astronaut in 2017. This means she works for NASA in important roles, but she no longer flies on space missions. She is currently assigned to NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.
She also shares her knowledge as a visiting professor at universities like Fordham University. Fordham University even gave her an honorary Ph.D. for her amazing work in science and health. Dr. Cagle is also an honorary member of the Danish Astronautical Society.
She works as a chief scientist for NASA's Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research program. She also advises NASA's Flight Opportunities Program. Dr. Cagle is a key link between Stanford University and technology companies like Google.
Awards and Special Recognition
Dr. Cagle has received many awards and honors for her achievements. Some of these include:
- Outstanding Young Women of America
- National Defense Service Medal
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- U.S. Air Force Air Staff Exceptional Physician Commendation
- National Technical Association Distinguished Scientist Award
- Honorary Ph.D. in Humanities from Fordham University
Other Notable Appearances
In 2017, Dr. Cagle had the honor of bringing Katherine Johnson onto the stage at the Academy Awards. Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician who worked for NASA.
In 2018, Dr. Cagle gave a TEDx talk. She spoke about the "Poetry of space on Earth," sharing her unique perspective.
See also
In Spanish: Yvonne Cagle para niños
