Yvonne Cagle

Yvonne Cagle

Yvonne Darlene Cagle (born April 24, 1959) is an American physician and retired NASA astronaut. She was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1996 and has contributed significantly to the fields of aerospace medicine and space exploration.

Early Life and Education

Cagle was born in West Point, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from San Francisco State University in 1981. She then received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Washington in 1985. Cagle completed her internship at Highland General Hospital in Oakland, California, and her residency in Family Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

NASA Career

Cagle was selected by NASA in April 1996 as an astronaut candidate. After completing two years of training and evaluation, she qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Cagle has worked on various projects, including the Shuttle-Mir Program and the International Space Station (ISS). She has also served as a liaison for the Space and Life Sciences Directorate.

Medical and Research Contributions

Cagle has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace medicine. She has worked on the development of medical protocols for long-duration space missions and has been involved in research on the physiological effects of space travel on the human body. Her work has been instrumental in improving the health and safety of astronauts.

Awards and Honors

Cagle has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to medicine and space exploration. These include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. She has also been recognized by various medical and scientific organizations for her work in aerospace medicine.

Personal Life

Cagle is an avid advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and has been involved in numerous outreach programs to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. She enjoys running, hiking, and reading in her spare time.

See Also

• List of female astronauts
• NASA Astronaut Group 16
• Space medicine