OL Reign Legend: Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger – Astronaut and Educator

The Legends Campaign, a partnership between OL Reign and Starbucks, honors women for their extraordinary contributions to our community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to OL Reign’s match against the Orlando Pride on September 3, OL Reign recognized Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, retired NASA astronaut and educator. 

Metcalf-Lindenburger served as a Mission Specialist on STS-131, an April 2010 Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station and spent more than 362 hours in space. Also an aquanaut, she commanded the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 16 undersea exploration mission aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory. 

Prior to becoming an astronaut, Metcalf-Lindenburger went to Whitman College in Walla Walla where she earned a degree in Geology before earning a teaching certification at Central Washington University. During her studies, she won several awards for her educational skills as well athletic abilities in cross country and track. Following her graduation, she became a high school teacher and coach and in turn, a mentor to many. 

“It really helped to have my parents involved in STEM,” said Metlcalf-Lindenburger. “My mom was a math teacher, and my dad was a science teacher and then a technical writer and engineer, so I grew up going to museums, libraries and planetariums. Growing up in that setting really gave my sister and I the confidence to be a woman in STEM.” 

Metcalf-Lindenburger was largely inspired by figures like Sally Ride, the first woman in space, as well as the prospect of having teachers, like her parents, go to space. Eventually, she would go to space camp in 1990 and learn more about what it takes to get a job with NASA. Once she arrived to college, one of the challenges she faced was not seeing herself in the people that were teaching her, as her professors were all men. 

"I didn't let that get to me because they were really good professors and still made sure I was included in everything, from class to internships, but it was something I really noticed.” 

She hit another bump in the road as she was graduating from college. She had a clear post-graduation plan – to go to Kazakhstan with the Peace Corps. However, as she was preparing for the trip, civil war broke out and she was no longer able to go. Though this was a majorly emotional moment for her, she came up with a plan B and moved home to Colorado with her parents. 

“I was honestly devastated, but I moved to live in my parents' basement, and I volunteered as a cross country coach with my old coaches. That was a really rewarding experience and gave me time to think about what would come next. I was looking for something that would keep me on a STEM trajectory and hopefully keep me going to NASA, but also give me some exposure into real life.”  

She decided to become a high school teacher. She moved back to Washington where she earned her teaching certification from Central Washington University and eventually made it down to Vancouver where she taught and coached. It was in Vancouver that she received a question from a student that would eventually change her life. 

“One of my students asked me how astronauts went to the bathroom in space. I was honest with them and told them I didn’t know what the space shuttle toilet looked like, so I wanted to find an answer for them. I went to the NASA website and found the answer to share with the class, but also on that same website, they were advertising that they were hiring teachers as part of the class of 2004 cohort of astronauts.” 

She then went through lengthy application and interview process that included essays, input from other people in her life, an FAA physical and a trip to Houston for the final round of the interview. After all of that, she was hired by NASA and began that portion of her career. 

In 2004, she was selected as an Educator Mission Specialist by NASA and went through a rigorous training process to become qualified as a NASA astronaut and then served as the Astronaut Office Station Branch twig lead for systems and crew interfaces. She became the first Space Camp alumna to go into space in 2010 and retired from NASA in 2014. Now, she lives and works in the Seattle-area and is a longtime OL Reign season ticket member. 

Metcalf-Lindenburger greatest accomplishment in her life is her daughter, but professionally, it’s going to space.  

“The crew of seven worked really hard and also the whole team that we had back at NASA. Together with our team and crew, I am just so proud of the work we did with the International Space Station and the whole Mission Control team back in Houston and Moscow. It’s something I’ll never forget and I’m so proud of it.” 

Through her impressive journey to becoming an astronaut, Metcalf-Lindenburger faced many challenges, but each time she persevered through them and came out stronger.  

“My advice is to talk to the people that are in leadership roles and get to know them, regardless of their background. I didn't have professors that were women when I went to college, but that didn’t mean that they weren't able to support me and talk to me about their path. I think that sometimes we think we have to be able to do everything by ourselves, and that's not true. People love to be asked to help, so seek out the people that you see doing the things you want to do and make connections with them. They want to help you!” 

Being honored as an OL Reign Legend was an extra special experience for Metcalf-Lindenburger, as she is a longtime OL Reign Season Ticket Member and has been taking her daughter to games for many years. 

“It's a huge honor to be selected as an OL Reign and Starbucks Legend. I just look at these at this OL Reign team as leaders, both on the field as incredible athletes, but also ff the field with their advocacy and action. So, to be honored by the team as a Legend makes me really excited,” said Metcalf-Lindenburger. 

To conclude, her call to action for our fans was a simple and powerful message. “I want people to understand science and technology so that they can make educated votes. and that they will vote. You have a voice that matters, and then using that voice at the polls or in places that can make and shape major change."