(MINEOLA, NY) –Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum (D-Great Neck) presented a certificate to Astronaut Dr. Ellen Baker who was honored at the 8th Annual Luncheon of the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame for helping advance aeronautical and technological achievements. At the luncheon, Dr. Baker was included in the Long Island Air & Space Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2016. She was joined at the luncheon by her mother, former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman. Dr. Baker received a Doctorate of Medicine degree from Cornell University in 1978 and joined NASA in 1981 as a medical officer. She was selected as an astronaut in 1984. Dr. Baker is a veteran of three space flights and she logged more than 686 hours in space. Her 1992 mission was the first extended duration orbiter flight and in her last mission she spent time aboard the Mir Space Station. She retired from NASA in 2011 to pursue other interests. “Dr. Baker spent a great amount of time working for NASA and she went on important space flights which have helped to further our knowledge of space. I join with others to congratulate Dr. Baker on her honor” said Legislator Birnbaum.
PHOTO CAPTION: Astronaut Dr. Ellen Baker and Nassau County Legislator Ellen W. Birnbaum