The following press release was issued by the University of Wisconsin-Madison shortly after the death of NASA astronaut Laurel B. Clark, (biography - photo) in the February 1st crash of the space shuttle Columbia. Clark, 41, earned degrees in both zoology and medicine from the university.

UW-MADISON ALUMNA ABOARD SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA

MADISON -- Just minutes before the space shuttle Columbia was expected to touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida around 9:16 a.m. EST today, it broke up over Texas upon re-entry. Among the seven flight crew members - all presumed dead at this time - was University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna Laurel Blair Salton Clark, 41.

During the 16-day mission, the flight members performed more than 80 scientific experiments, including two led by UW-Madison's Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics (WCSAR). Because of her connection to the university, Clark had specifically requested to be involved in the UW-Madison projects during the flight. The shuttle, originally scheduled for takeoff last July, left earth at 9:39 a.m. EST on Jan. 16.

Clark, who was aboard her first space flight mission, grew up in Wisconsin. After graduating from William Horlick High School in Racine in 1979, she attended UW-Madison, where she received her bachelor's degree in zoology in 1983 and medical degree in 1987. Before being selected by NASA in April 1996 as an astronaut candidate, Clark was a commander in the U.S. Navy and a naval flight surgeon. She completed two years of training and evaluation before she was qualified as a mission specialist for the space shuttle flight.

Clark, whose hobbies included scuba diving, hiking, camping, biking, parachuting and flying, was married to Jonathan B. Clark; they have one child. During her time with the Navy, she received three Navy Commendation Medals.

On the mission, Clark carried with her several mementos to remind her of her time at UW-Madison: two Medical School medallions and a Wisconsin-made teddy bear wearing a jacket with the College of Letters and Science logo and "Zoology" embroidered over the heart.

Recalling a letter Clark wrote to the university, Phil Certain, dean of the College of Letters and Science, says, "Laurel said she would like to recognize the role the University of Wisconsin has played in her life by flying an item from her undergraduate school."

Clark had told Certain during an interview last June: "I loved my zoology classes, but I also remember many wonderful classes that were unrelated to what I ended up doing. Taking this broad range of classes really fostered my appreciation of the depth of education I was getting. I have so many strong memories of those years."

Speaking on behalf of the UW Medical School, Deputy Dean Paul M. DeLuca said, "We are extremely saddened by the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and our alumna, Dr. Laurel Clark. Laurel was an extraordinary young woman who contributed much to science and space flight. Our thoughts are with her family, her friends and all who knew her. Laurel will be remembered as a dedicated physician and talented researcher. Her warm spirit and vision will continue on in her achievements."

Clark, before she flew her first mission, told Certain and others in her interview, "I myself never thought about being an astronaut until I was in my thirties. . . . I feel very fortunate every day that I've been chosen to do what I'm going to do. I think that sometimes life takes you in very unexpected ways."

Biography of Laurel B. Clark
[Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison]

NAME: Laurel Blair Salton Clark, M.D. Commander, USN NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Although she was born on March 10, 1961, in Ames, Iowa, Dr. Clark considers Racine, Wisconsin, to be her hometown. She is married to Jonathan B. Clark (Captain, USN) and they have one child. She enjoys scuba diving, hiking, camping, biking, parachuting, flying and traveling.

EDUCATION: 1979 - Graduated from William Horlick High School, Racine, Wisconsin 1983 - Bachelor of Science in Zoology, College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison 1987 - Doctorate in Medicine, Medical School, University of Wisconsin-Madison

ORGANIZATIONS: Aerospace Medical Association Society of U.S. Naval Flight Surgeons

AWARDS: Navy Commendation Medals (3) National Defense Medal Overseas Service Ribbon

NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Clark was selected by NASA in April 1996 and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August of that year. After completing two years of training and evaluation, she was qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. From July 1997 to August 2000, Dr. Clark worked in the Astronaut Office Payloads/Habitability Branch. She will launch as part of the crew of STS-107 scheduled July 19, 2002.

BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE: In 1987, while still in medical school, Dr. Clark underwent active duty training with the Diving Medicine Department at the Naval Experimental Diving Unit. She did postgraduate medical education in pediatrics at the naval hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1987 to 1988. The following year, she completed navy undersea medical officer training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute in Groton, Connecticut, and diving medical officer training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. She was designated a radiation health officer and undersea medical officer.

Dr. Clark was then assigned as the Submarine Squadron Fourteen Medical Department head in Holy Loch, Scotland. During that assignment, she dove with U.S. Navy divers and Naval Special Warfare Unit Two Seals, and performed numerous medical evacuations from U.S. submarines. After two years of operational experience, she was designated a naval submarine medical officer and diving medical officer.

She did six months of aeromedical training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. Stationed at Yuma, Arizona, she was named flight surgeon for a Marine Corps AV-8B Night Attack Harrier Squadron, which won a Marine Attack Squadron of the Year title. She has made numerous deployments, including one overseas to the western Pacific, and has practiced medicine in austere environments. Prior to her selection as an astronaut candidate, she served as a flight surgeon for the Naval Flight Officer Advanced Training Squadron in Pensacola, Florida.

Lieutenant Commander Clark is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and holds a Wisconsin medical license.