Beginnings of a NASA Scientist
It was in the 1990s that curiosity about comets came to be. To know everything about comets and satisfy our curiosity seemed to be everyone’s goal at NASA. After all, they are one of the most easily identifiable and dynamic things in the universe that we can see with the naked eye in the night sky.
In 1993, the Rosetta project was approved to catch the comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko to begin in the 21st Century. In 2004, the project was launched into orbit to begin chasing the C-G and analyze it for more information with hopefully the same behavior as in previous years in mid-July this year.
So, what does this have to do with a NASA scientist?
It was around this time that NASA scientist Claudia Alexander served on the Rosetta Project and the Galileo mission, as well as others. In her time with NASA, her research on the projects she served on led to the writing or co-writing of fourteen papers.
For her work she has received awards such as Woman of the Year and Emerald Honor for Women of Color in Research & Engineering. Her work shows that she was a leader in the NASA space program.
In Remembrance
It is very sad to report that on July 11th in Arcadia, California, Claudia Alexander, NASA scientist, died at fifty-six years old. She was afflicted with breast cancer, a tragic illness. All those who knew her are immensely struck by grief.
Some of her work colleagues have mentioned that she was always wanting to keep the public updated on what was going on at NASA. Before her death, she saw the end of the Galileo project which she was a part of as it ran out of fuel, though the Rosetta project was still underway at the time of her death.
When not working as a NASA scientist, Alexander wrote books for young children as well as some some short stories, and taped a lecture that will be released later this year. A prolific team player, Alexander is survived by her mother, sister, and brother and will be sorely missed by all and who knew her and those of us who are thankful for her contribution to space science at NASA.
