Shannon Lucid

Shannon Lucid

Shannon Lucid (Ph.D.) was the second U.S.
astronaut to become a guest cosmonaut
researcher residing aboard Mir. She served as a
mission specialist aboard Atlantis during STS-76
and remained aboard the Russian space station
after the shuttle undocked and returned home.
After a 188-day stint aboard Mir, Lucid
returned to Earth aboard Atlantis on STS-79.

Lucid's six-month mission established her as the
U.S. space flight duration record holder and the
world's female record holder.

Lucid was selected as an astronaut in 1978 and has served as a mission specialist on six previous Shuttle flights, STS 51-B in 1985, STS-34 in 1989, STS-43 in 1991, STS-58 in 1993, STS-76 (outbound only) and STS-79 (homebound only) in 1996.

On returning to Earth after spending more than five months in the Space Station Mir, Shannon Lucid was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour by U.S President Bill Clinton.