Sheila Ann Thibeault

Sheila Ann Thibeault is an American physicist and materials scientist who has worked at NASA's Langley Research Center since the 1960s. She is known for her early work on the Apollo program's Rendezvous Docking Simulator and for her subsequent decades-long research career developing space-durable materials and radiation shielding for astronauts. Early life and education A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, Thibeault earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from the College of William & Mary in June 1966.

Career

Apollo program Thibeault first joined NASA's Langley Research Center as a summer hire between her junior and senior years at College of William & Mary, during the height of the Apollo program. Her work focused on identifying and correcting visual distortion in the simulator so astronauts could accurately judge alignment during docking, both in training and during the actual missions. The simulator was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.

Materials science and radiation shielding research Since 1981, Thibeault's research has centered on the development of space-durable materials and radiation shielding systems for spacecraft and astronauts. From 2006 to 2009, she served as Task Lead for the Radiation Shielding Task under NASA's Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP).

In 2011, she was named a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Fellow.

She holds multiple United States patents related to polymer composite materials, including low-creep and low-stress-relaxation polymer composites for aerospace applications.

She received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2000.

Selected publications