Ael gh ah. Zaidaq d'eaie dt Give them the gift they ask for year after year. Spaced Out NASA astronaut Ellen Baker has a perspective from above. A gift certificate from JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER Hair Face Body SPA SCHEDULE AM 8:30 9:00 10:00 11:00 Limousine pick-up Orientation Capelli Facial One and a half hour massage PM 12:30 ti 1:00 1:30 2:30 3:00 4:00 Lunch-Choose from assortment of Fresh Juices, Salads, Health Sandwiches, Fruit, Herbal Teas, etc. Manicure with Aromaparaffin Pedicure with Aromaparaffin Hair finish Makeup with Chart Limousine Back Home with a Special Gift Bag waiting for you Dr. Baker was still waiting for her first space mission when the Challenger exploded on Jan. 28, 1986, killing all seven aboard. "I knew everyone who died on the Challenger and their fami- lies," she said. "We've always un- derstood and recognized the risks, but it doesn't make things PHOTO BY DANIEL LIPPI TT E Hen Baker was a senior in high school when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their first steps on the moon. It was 1969 and just another moment for the young woman and her classmates, who did not know until years later that she would become one of the 222 American men and women to leave Earth's at- mosphere. She shared her experiences as a NASA astronaut with 300 women who attended the annual women and science luncheon of the American Com- mittee for the Weiz- mann Institute of Science Michigan Ellen Baker's latest Region last week at mission: Temple Beth El. Addressing a Dr. Baker, the Weizmann mother of two ele- luncheon. mentary-school- aged children, said her daughters don't like it when she travels — on Earth or in space. Between 1989 and 1995, Dr. Baker participated in three shuttle missions, spending in to- tal nearly a month in space. She is one of eight Jewish astronauts to work aboard the space shut- tles. Shortly after completing her medical residency, Dr. Baker went to work for the U.S. space program. In 1981 she became a medical officer for NASA at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Cen- ter in Houston. She and her family currently live in Texas. A few years later she began training as an astronaut, spend- ing countless hours inside space simulators. More time was spent learning about the medical experiments that she would be conducting, training to do rou- tine maintenance aboard the shuttle and practicing for a space walk that she never took. any easier." Dr. Baker, currently not scheduled for more space flights, is working on medical policy is- sues regarding shuttle and space-station operations and speaks to the public about her experiences. "[Space flight] is beautiful, but it's also a lot of hard work that can be very demanding," she said. "Earth is very recognizable from above. We can circle it in an hour and a half— it is amaz- ing to think we can travel around Earth so quickly." One of 222 Americans to leave Earth's atmosphere. Dr. Baker believes there are other forms of life in the uni- verse, and expects the United States to send people back to the moon and to Mars. "I'd also like to think people will live out there," she said. "The human spirit is adventurous, and therefore I think it could hap- pen." ❑ Publicity Deadlines For Information & Appointment 1939 S. Telegraph • Bloomfield Hills • (810) 332-3434 • tolb. oct eeai The normal deadline for local news and publicity items is noon Thursday, eight days prior to issue date. The deadline for out-of-town obituaries is 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days pri- or to issue date. All material must be typewritten, double-spaced, on 8 1 /2 x 11 paper and include the name and daytime telephone num- ber of sender.