04/04/2024
that Yvonne Darlene Cagle has been the only African American female astronaut who served in the military?
Cagle was born on April 24, 1959, in West Point, New York. On July 20, 1969, she watched with her family as Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. This inspired her to leave her footprints on the moon one day. Her family later moved to Novato, California, where she attended Navato High School.
In 1977, she graduated and enrolled in San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California. In 1981, she graduated and was sponsored to attend medical school through the U.S. Air Force’s Health Professions Scholarship Program. In 1985, Cagle received her Doctorate in medicine and was commissioned as an officer in the Air Force.
In 1988, she became a certified flight surgeon from the School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas. She was assigned to the 48th Tactical Hospital in the United Kingdom, where she logged numerous hours in a variety of aircrafts, providing medical support.
In May 1989, Cagle volunteered to serve as the Air Force medical liaison officer for the STS-30 Atlantis shuttle mission test. She provided contributed to ongoing studies on astronaut health and served as a consultant for space telemedicine.
On May 1, 1996, Cagle was selected astronaut candidate. Though she was never selected for any space missions, she designed medical protocols for astronauts in space that are still followed today.
In 2008, Cagle retired from the Air Force with the rank of Colonel. Though she never achieved her dream of reaching the moon, Cagle is still active with NASA and serves as their lead scientists on the Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research program.
Join us daily until April 8, to learn about the members of the (the affinity group of African American astronauts) who also served in the military and some safety tips to enjoy the upcoming eclipse.
Photo: Colonel Yvonne Cagle, courtesy of NASA
