Origins & Early Life

Judith Arlene Resnik (April 5, 1949 – January 28, 1986) was an American electrical engineer, software engineer, biomedical engineer, pilot and NASA astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. She was the fourth woman, the second American woman and the first Jewish woman of any nationality to fly in space, logging 145 hours in orbit. Recognized while still a child for her intellectual brilliance, Resnik was accepted at Carnegie Institute of Technology after becoming only the 16th woman in the history of the United States to have attained a perfect score on the SAT exam. She graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Carnegie Mellon before attaining a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Resnik worked for RCA as an engineer on Navy missile and radar projects, as a senior systems engineer for Xerox Corporation, and published research on special-purpose integrated circuitry. She was also a pilot and made research contributions to biomedical engineering as a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health. At age 28, Resnik was selected by NASA as a mission specialist. She was part of NASA Astronaut Group 8, the first group to include...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Alice Bailey — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Adolph Caesar — Contemporary (Died in 1986) (1986): Acclaimed American actor known for his deep voice and Off-Broadway staple status.
• Alfredo Binda — Contemporary (Died in 1986) (1986): Pioneering Italian cyclist, renowned for five Giro d'Italia wins and multiple world titles.
• Amanda Bynes — Contemporary (Born in 1986) (1986): American retired actress known for Nickelodeon and teen comedies.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Shared historical date (04-05 · Died) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Akira Toriyama — Shared historical date (04-05 · Born) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Alan Alda — Shared historical date (01-28 · Born) (1936): Esteemed American actor celebrated for M*A*S*H and decades of versatile performances.
• André the Giant — Shared historical date (01-28 · Died) (1993): French wrestler and actor, famed for his colossal size and wrestling career.
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• April 5 (04-05) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 5
• 1986 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1986
• January 28 (01-28) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 28