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Jan Davis

Nancy Jan Davis (born November 1, 1953) is an American mechanical engineer, former NASA astronaut, and aerospace industry executive who flew on three Space Shuttle missions, logging a total of 673 hours in space while orbiting Earth 445 times and traveling approximately 11 million miles.^[1]^[2] Born in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Davis grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, a hub of aerospace activity that influenced her career path.^[1] She earned a B.S. in applied biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1975, followed by a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1977.^[1] Davis then pursued advanced studies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, obtaining an M.S. in mechanical engineering in 1983 and a Ph.D. in 1985.^[1] Early in her career, she worked as a petroleum engineer for Texaco from 1977 to 1979 before joining NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center as an aerospace engineer, where she contributed to structural analysis projects, including for the Hubble Space Telescope.^[1] Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1987, Davis served in various roles, including as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) and chief of the Payloads Branch, before her first spaceflight.^[1] Her missions included STS-47 on Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992, where she was a mission specialist on the Spacelab-J flight focused on microgravity experiments; STS-60 on Discovery in 1994, involving the first U.S.-Russian joint shuttle mission with Spacehab and the Wake Shield Facility; and STS-85 on Discovery in 1997, as payload commander deploying the CRISTA-SPAS satellite for atmospheric research.^[1]^[2] After her flights, she advanced to leadership positions at NASA, serving as director of the Flight Projects Directorate and later Safety and Mission Assurance at Marshall from 1999 to 2005.^[1] Davis retired from NASA in 2005 and joined Jacobs Engineering as vice president and deputy general manager of the Engineering and Science Services and Skills Augmentation (ESSSA) Group supporting Marshall Space Flight Center, a role she held until 2016, after which she became a technical fellow with the company.^[2] Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the NASA Space Flight Medal (three awards), Exceptional Service Medal, and induction into the Alabama Aviation and Engineering Halls of Fame in 2001.^[1]

Early life and education

Family background and childhood

Nancy Jan Davis was born on November 1, 1953, at Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida.^[1] Her family relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1963 when she was 10 years old, during her elementary school years, and she considers Huntsville her hometown.^[3] Growing up in this aerospace hub near NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Davis was immersed in the burgeoning space program, where the testing of Saturn V rocket engines was a frequent occurrence that shaped her early environment.^[4] Davis's father, Benjamin "Ben" Smotherman, profoundly influenced her passion for aviation; he served as a B-17 pilot during World War II, was shot down over Holland in July 1943, and endured 22 months as a prisoner of war.^[3] He shared stories from his service, including journal entries, paintings, and drawings created during captivity, which highlighted his resilience and appreciation for simple freedoms like eating white bread after liberation—tales that inspired Davis's own interest in flight and perseverance.^[3] Her mother, who married young at age 17, played a pivotal role in the family by managing the household during her husband's absences and emphasizing education, positivity, and self-reliance amid the challenges of his two divorces and raising three children with extended family support.^[3] In Huntsville's space-centric community, Davis's childhood activities included exposure to rocketry and engineering through interactions with children of NASA engineers and the German rocket team, fostering her curiosity about science and technology.^[3] She graduated from Huntsville High School in 1971, marking the end of her formative years before pursuing higher education.^[1]

Academic achievements

Jan Davis began her higher education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in applied biology in 1975. She then pursued mechanical engineering studies at Auburn University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1977. These undergraduate degrees provided a strong foundation in both biological sciences and engineering principles, aligning with her interests in interdisciplinary applications.^[1] Davis continued her graduate education at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), completing a Master of Science in mechanical engineering in 1983. She followed this with a Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering in 1985, with her doctoral research focusing on the long-term strength of pressure vessels due to the viscoelastic characteristics of filament-wound composites. This work emphasized advanced materials analysis and structural integrity, contributing to her expertise in aerospace-related engineering challenges.^[1] Throughout her academic career, Davis was recognized for her excellence through membership in several prestigious honor societies, including Tau Beta Pi (engineering), Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership), Pi Tau Sigma (mechanical engineering), and Sigma Gamma Tau (aeronautical engineering). She also belonged to Alpha Xi Delta, a social sorority. Notable awards included the ASME National Old Guard Prize in 1978 for outstanding senior engineering students and a NASA Fellowship for full-time graduate study in 1983, which supported her advanced research at UAH.^[1]^[5]

Pre-NASA engineering career

Private industry roles

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1977, Jan Davis joined Texaco in Bellaire, Texas, as a petroleum engineer, where she worked from 1977 to 1979.^[1]^[6] In this role, Davis focused on tertiary oil recovery methods, particularly enhanced techniques such as steam flooding to improve oil mobility and extraction from underground reservoirs.^[2] Her responsibilities included analyzing reservoir performance and contributing to the development of processes that optimized energy resource evaluation and drilling operations in mature oil fields.^[2] This work honed her skills in applied mechanical engineering within a corporate environment, emphasizing practical problem-solving for resource extraction challenges.^[1] Davis left Texaco in 1979 to pursue opportunities in aerospace engineering, transitioning to a position at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center that aligned with her growing interest in space-related technologies.^[1]^[2]

Initial NASA positions

Jan Davis joined NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1979 as an aerospace engineer, marking the start of her career in space hardware development.^[1] Her initial responsibilities focused on structural engineering for launch vehicles and related systems, building on her prior experience in petroleum engineering.^[2] From 1979 to 1986, Davis worked as an aerospace engineer at MSFC, where she conducted structural design, analysis, and verification of space hardware components, including elements critical to the Space Shuttle program.^[2] During this period, she contributed to the evaluation of material stresses and load-bearing capacities under extreme conditions, ensuring the reliability of propulsion and orbital structures.^[1] She also pursued advanced studies at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, earning a master's degree in 1983 and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1985, with research on the strength of filament-wound composite pressure vessels.^[1] In 1986, Davis was promoted to team leader in the Structural Analysis Division at MSFC, overseeing a group responsible for the structural analysis and verification of the Hubble Space Telescope, its planned maintenance mission hardware, and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility.^[1] Under her leadership, the team addressed complex challenges in finite element modeling and dynamic loading simulations to validate assembly integrity for these orbital observatories.^[2] Following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which highlighted vulnerabilities in the solid rocket booster (SRB) system, Davis was appointed in 1987 as lead engineer for the redesign of the SRB's external tank attach ring.^[1] This critical interface transfers lateral loads between the external tank and the SRBs, and her role involved analyzing and redesigning it to enhance structural robustness and withstand the high-vibration ascent environment, supporting the overall propulsion system's safety.^[7] Through these contributions, Davis advanced NASA's focus on propulsion reliability and structural robustness prior to her transition to the astronaut program.^[1]

Astronaut selection and missions

Selection and training

Jan Davis was selected as an astronaut candidate in NASA Astronaut Group 12, announced on June 5, 1987, a class comprising 15 individuals that included three women—Davis, Susan Helms, and Mae Jemison—representing a notable advancement in female inclusion within the astronaut corps after the 1986 Challenger disaster.^[8] Her qualifications for selection highlighted her extensive engineering background at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), where she had served since 1979 in roles involving propulsion systems and structural analysis, combined with demonstrated physical fitness and leadership experience in technical teams.^[9] Upon joining the Johnson Space Center, Davis underwent the comprehensive astronaut candidate training program from 1987 to 1991, designed to prepare candidates for spaceflight operations.^[9] This regimen encompassed wilderness and water survival training to handle potential landing scenarios, flight training in T-38 Talon aircraft to build aviation skills, robotics instruction focused on the Space Shuttle's Remote Manipulator System (RMS), and simulations for extravehicular activities including spacewalk procedures in neutral buoyancy labs.^[10]^[11] During training, Davis was assigned as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control Center, supporting seven Space Shuttle missions—STS-29, STS-40, STS-43, STS-48, STS-44, STS-45, and STS-54—by relaying critical information between ground teams and crews.^[9] She also trained specifically as an RMS representative, gaining expertise in operating the shuttle's robotic arm for payload deployment and retrieval.^[9] After completing training and qualifying as a mission specialist in 1991, Davis was appointed Chief of the Astronaut Office Payloads Branch, where she managed the integration of scientific experiments and hardware for shuttle missions, ensuring compatibility with vehicle systems and crew operations.^[9]

STS-47 mission

STS-47 marked Jan Davis's first spaceflight as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which launched from Kennedy Space Center on September 12, 1992, at 10:23 a.m. EDT.^[12] The mission, designated Spacelab-J, represented a collaborative effort between NASA and Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) to conduct 43 experiments focused on life sciences and microgravity research, including studies on human physiology, cell biology, animal development, and materials processing in weightlessness.^[1] These investigations utilized the pressurized Spacelab module in the shuttle's payload bay to simulate extended microgravity conditions, advancing understanding of biological adaptations and material behaviors beyond Earth's gravity.^[12] In her role, Davis operated Spacelab subsystems, managed payload activities, and performed biomedical experiments, such as monitoring physiological responses to microgravity and handling samples from aquatic organisms like Japanese medaka fish.^[1] Her duties emphasized precise coordination within the seven-member crew, highlighting the teamwork essential for executing complex scientific protocols in a confined orbital environment.^[13] The mission's international scope fostered cross-cultural collaboration, with Japanese payload specialist Mamoru Mohri contributing expertise on NASDA-sponsored studies.^[12] A notable historic aspect of STS-47 was the presence of Davis and her husband, payload commander Mark C. Lee, as the first married couple to fly together in space, an event that garnered widespread media attention and public fascination regarding interpersonal dynamics in orbit.^[12] NASA had previously maintained an unwritten policy discouraging the assignment of married astronauts to the same mission to avoid potential conflicts, but granted an exception in this case since the couple married in January 1991, after their 1989 crew assignment.^[14] This precedent underscored evolving agency approaches to astronaut personal lives amid professional demands. The flight concluded after 7 days, 22 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds, encompassing 126 orbits of Earth, with Endeavour landing smoothly at Kennedy Space Center on September 20, 1992, at 8:53 a.m. EDT on runway 33.^[12] Davis later described the zero-gravity experience as transformative, offering unique insights into fluid dynamics and crew interdependence that enhanced mission efficiency and scientific outcomes.^[1]

STS-60 mission

STS-60, Jan Davis's second spaceflight, launched on February 3, 1994, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A, marking the shuttle's 18th mission.^[15] The flight lasted 8 days, 7 hours, 9 minutes, and 22 seconds, completing 130 orbits of Earth at an altitude of approximately 190 nautical miles.^[16] As a mission specialist, Davis contributed to payload operations alongside commander Charles F. Bolden Jr., pilot Kenneth S. Reightler Jr., and fellow mission specialists Ronald M. Sega, Franklin R. Chang-Díaz, and Sergei K. Krikalev, the latter being the first Russian cosmonaut to fly on a U.S. shuttle.^[17] This mission represented a pivotal step in U.S.-Russia space cooperation, serving as the inaugural flight of the Shuttle-Mir Program and laying groundwork for the International Space Station by integrating Krikalev's expertise in long-duration spaceflight.^[15] The international crew dynamics required coordination across language and procedural differences, fostering early lessons in joint operations that emphasized shared objectives and cross-training.^[16] Drawing briefly on her prior experience from STS-47, Davis efficiently managed complex maneuvers, enhancing the mission's scientific productivity.^[18] A primary objective involved Davis operating the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System to deploy and retrieve the Wake Shield Facility (WSF-1), a 12-foot-diameter satellite designed to create a vacuum environment in its wake for growing ultra-thin films used in semiconductors and superconductors.^[17] On flight day four, attempts to fully deploy WSF-1 as a free-flying satellite were aborted due to anomalies in its attitude control system, leading to tethered operations from the robotic arm; nonetheless, five of seven planned thin-film growth experiments succeeded, producing high-quality samples.^[15] Complementing this, the crew activated the Spacehab-2 module in the payload bay, conducting 14 middeck experiments from seven nations focused on materials science—such as crystal growth and alloy processing—and biotechnology, including protein crystallization and cell culture studies to advance pharmaceutical and industrial applications.^[18] The mission concluded with a smooth landing on February 11, 1994, at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after 3,439,704 miles traveled, despite the WSF maneuvering hurdles that tested the crew's adaptability.^[16] Overall, STS-60 demonstrated the feasibility of multinational collaboration in microgravity research, yielding data that informed future joint endeavors.^[15]

STS-85 mission

The STS-85 mission marked Jan Davis's third and final spaceflight, launching on August 7, 1997, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A.^[1] As payload commander, Davis was responsible for overseeing the mission's primary scientific payloads and operations, drawing on her cumulative experience from two previous shuttle flights to ensure efficient execution of complex tasks.^[1] The mission lasted 11 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes, and 47 seconds, completing 185 orbits of Earth and covering approximately 4.7 million miles.^[1] A key highlight was the deployment and retrieval of the CRISTA-SPAS (Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite) free-flying satellite, which Davis managed using the shuttle's robotic arm.^[19] Released shortly after orbit insertion, CRISTA-SPAS conducted remote sensing observations of Earth's middle atmosphere, collecting infrared data on trace gases and temperature profiles over more than 200 hours of independent flight to advance understanding of atmospheric dynamics and chemistry.^[19] Davis personally operated the arm for the satellite's precise capture and berthing back into Discovery's payload bay on flight day 10, enabling the return of its instruments for post-mission analysis.^[1] Davis also directed operations for the Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD), a technology development experiment sponsored by Japan's space agency NASDA, which tested the Small Fine Arm—a compact robotic manipulator intended for the International Space Station's Japanese Experiment Module.^[19] Mounted on a truss in the payload bay, the MFD involved a series of robotic arm maneuvers to simulate assembly tasks in microgravity, including grappling and positioning, with Davis coordinating crew activities for data collection on arm performance and control systems.^[1] Additional experiments under her purview included microgravity research in life sciences and materials processing, as well as Earth observation via the Technology Applications and Science-1 (TAS-1) package, contributing to broader goals in remote sensing and technology validation.^[19] The mission concluded with a smooth landing on August 19, 1997, at Kennedy Space Center's Runway 33, after wave-offs due to weather concerns on prior days.^[1] Across her three shuttle missions, Davis accumulated over 673 hours in space, solidifying her contributions to NASA's human spaceflight program.^[1]

Post-mission NASA leadership

Headquarters assignments

Following her third spaceflight on STS-85 in August 1997, Jan Davis transferred to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she served as Director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) Independent Assurance Office within the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance.^[1] In this Senior Executive Service position, she oversaw independent assessments to ensure the safety and mission success of HEDS programs, including the International Space Station and broader human exploration initiatives.^[1]^[20] Her role emphasized providing credible, objective, and nonadvocacy reports on program integrity, drawing on her astronaut experience to inform assurance strategies for high-risk space operations.^[21] From 1997 to July 1999, Davis led efforts in risk assessment, policy development, and audits for HEDS activities, focusing on identifying potential hazards in space station assembly, shuttle integrations, and exploration technologies.^[1] This included directing independent reviews to verify compliance with safety standards and mitigate operational risks, contributing to enhanced protocols for human spaceflight reliability during a period of evolving program architectures.^[21] Her leadership helped strengthen NASA's assurance framework by integrating engineering insights from flight-tested systems into administrative oversight.^[1] In 1999, Davis was promoted within the Senior Executive Service and reassigned to the Marshall Space Flight Center, concluding her headquarters tenure.^[1]

Marshall Space Flight Center roles

In 1999, Jan Davis returned to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) following her assignment at NASA Headquarters, where she had served as director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space Independent Assurance Office.^[1] Initially appointed as deputy director of the Flight Projects Directorate, she was named director in January 2001, a position she held until August 2003.^[22] In this role, she led a team of over 1,400 civil servants and contractors responsible for managing key elements of the International Space Station (ISS) program, including the Payload Operations Center, Nodes 2 and 3, Multi-purpose Logistics Modules, and the Regenerative Environment Control and Life Support System, as well as the Chandra X-ray Observatory project.^[1]^[22] Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February 2003, Davis was appointed director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at MSFC in August 2003, succeeding Amanda Goodson.^[22] In this capacity, she oversaw safety, reliability, and quality assurance activities across all MSFC programs and personnel, with a focus on risk assessment, policy compliance, and mission certification for human spaceflight initiatives to support the agency's return-to-flight efforts.^[1]^[22] Her leadership contributed to the implementation of recommendations from the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), emphasizing organizational changes to enhance safety practices at the center.^[22] She held this position until her retirement from NASA in October 2005, after 26 years of federal service.^[1] Davis received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1998 for her prior contributions to human spaceflight assurance, along with the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive in 2002 and the NASA Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award in 2005, recognizing her executive impact on safety and project management.^[1]

Post-NASA career

Engineering consultancy

Upon retiring from NASA in October 2005, Jan Davis joined Jacobs Sverdrup Engineering, Science, and Technical Services as Vice President and Deputy General Manager of the Engineering, Science, Services, and Skills Augmentation (ESSSA) Group at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama.^[1]^[23]^[24] In this role, she oversaw the management of engineering and technical services contracts supporting NASA's aerospace programs, providing multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists for space hardware development and related technical support without holding federal employment.^[2]^[25] Davis's expertise, built from her prior NASA leadership in engineering and mission operations, enabled her to contribute to ongoing NASA contracts at MSFC, including propulsion systems development and safety analysis for spaceflight projects.^[26] Her work at Jacobs focused on ensuring the reliability and innovation in hardware design and testing for programs like the Space Launch System, emphasizing mission assurance through rigorous technical oversight.^[4] She served in this capacity for eleven years until 2016, after which she transitioned to Bastion Technologies, Inc., as Program Manager and Senior Technical Fellow for the Safety and Mission Assurance Services Contract at MSFC.^[26]^[23] At Bastion, Davis led efforts in safety analysis, risk assessment, and mission assurance for NASA propulsion and exploration initiatives, continuing her consultancy in a non-federal role while supporting hardware integration and certification processes.^[27] She served in this role from 2017 to 2020, after which she retired from her engineering consultancy positions.^[20]

Authorship and public speaking

In 2023, Jan Davis published her memoir Air Born: Two Generations in Flight, which chronicles her career as a NASA astronaut alongside her father Ben Smotherman's experiences as a B-17 pilot during World War II, including his time as a prisoner of war.^[28]^[29] The book draws parallels between their aviation legacies, emphasizing themes of service, resilience, and family influence in aerospace history.^[30] Davis followed this with a companion volume, Air Born: Artistic Musings of a WWII Pilot & POW, released in 2024, which focuses on her father's artwork, sketches, and personal reflections created during his captivity and service.^[31]^[32] This work provides an intimate look at Smotherman's creative output as a means of coping and documentation amid wartime challenges.^[33] As an author, Davis has promoted her books through various public appearances, including a session at the Texas Book Festival in November 2024, where she discussed family legacies of service and resilience.^[34] She also participated in book signings at Space Center Houston, engaging audiences with conversations about her and her father's flight histories.^[35] In 2025, Davis presented at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans on April 15, sharing insights from both books during a "Meet the Author" event.^[31] Beyond authorship, Davis serves as a space consultant and inspirational speaker, delivering talks on STEM education, leadership in high-stakes environments, and aviation history to diverse audiences including students, professionals, and organizations.^[20]^[36] Her presentations often highlight motivational lessons from her spaceflights and family heritage, tailored for conferences, schools, and corporate events.^[36] As of 2025, Davis remains active in promoting her work, with her first book selected for inclusion in the Texas Book Festival and ongoing engagements listed on her professional calendar.^[37] She shares updates on these activities via LinkedIn, including participation in entrepreneurial events and pitch competitions that align with her expertise in innovation and leadership.^[38]^[39]

Personal life and recognition

Family and relationships

Jan Davis married fellow astronaut Mark C. Lee in January 1991, after they had already been assigned together to the STS-47 mission in 1989. NASA, which maintained an unwritten policy against placing married couples on the same flight, reviewed the situation and granted an exception due to the advanced stage of their training, allowing them to become the first married couple to fly in space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. However, the agency subsequently formalized its ethics policy to bar joint missions for married astronauts moving forward.^[40]^[41]^[14] Davis and Lee divorced in 1999.^[42] Davis's family provided crucial support for her career in aerospace. Her father, Benjamin Smotherman, a World War II B-17 pilot who was shot down over Europe and held as a prisoner of war for 21 months, profoundly influenced her passion for flight from an early age. She has a sister who assisted in preserving family aviation history by sharing their father's wartime flight logs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This familial encouragement, rooted in a legacy of aviation, sustained Davis through her demanding professional path.^[3]^[43] Among her personal interests, Davis enjoys flying, ice skating, snow skiing, water sports, and needlework, activities that highlight her active lifestyle and creative pursuits outside of her scientific endeavors.^[44]

Awards and honors

Jan Davis was awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal for her participation in three Space Shuttle missions: STS-47 in 1992, STS-60 in 1994, and STS-85 in 1997.^[1] For her contributions to NASA programs, she received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1995 and again in 2002.^[1] She was also presented with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1998 in recognition of her leadership roles within the agency.^[1] In 2002, Davis earned the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, a high civilian honor for senior federal executives demonstrating exceptional leadership.^[1] Three years later, in 2005, she received the NASA Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award for her efforts in promoting safety and awareness in human spaceflight.^[1] Davis was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for her advancements in engineering practice and education.^[1] She also received the ASME Ralph Coates Roe Medal in 2001, which honors an early-career engineer for significant contributions to the profession.^[1] In 2001, she was inducted into both the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame for her pioneering work in aerospace and the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame for her impact on engineering innovation.^[1] In 2025, Davis was honored with the IQLA Lifetime Achievement Award by Auburn University's College of Human Sciences.^[45]

References

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JAN DAVIS (PH.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER). PERSONAL DATA: Born November 1, 1953, at Cocoa Beach, Florida, but considers. Huntsville Alabama, to be her ...
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Nancy Jan Davis (1953- ) is a former American astronaut who logged more than 673 hours and 11 million miles in space and orbited the earth 445 times.
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After graduating from Auburn University in 1977, Davis joined Texaco in Bellaire, Texas, working as a petroleum engineer in tertiary oil recovery. She left ...
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PERSONAL DATA: Born November 1, 1953, at Cocoa Beach, Florida, but considers Huntsville Alabama, to be her hometown. She enjoys flying, ice skating, snow skiing ...Missing: family background childhood
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Mar 6, 1991 · Married astronauts Mark Lee and Jan Davis will be allowed to fly together on a September 1992 shuttle flight, becoming the first ...
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Jan Davis, Mission Specialist Ronald M. Sega, Mission Specialist Sergei K. Krikalev, Mission Specialist. Mission Highlights. The first shuttle flight of 1994 ...
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Feb 3, 1994 · Mission Specialist N. Jan Davis, Ph.D. Second Shuttle flight. Mission Specialist Ronald M. Sega, Ph.D. First Shuttle flight. Mission ...
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Mission: CRISTA-SPAS-02 ; Space Shuttle: Discovery ; Launch Pad: 39A ; Launched: August 7, 1997, 10:41:00 a.m. EDT ; Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
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Born at Patrick Air Force Base and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Jan Davis has been surrounded by aviation and space her entire life.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
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Dr. Jan Davis is a retired aerospace professional with experience as an astronaut, engineer, and senior manager. She is an Alabama resident and is very active ...Missing: ESSSA current<|control11|><|separator|>
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A veteran of three space flights, Dr. Davis has logged over 673 hours in space. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-47 in 1992 and STS-60 in 1994.
[29]
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Jul 28, 2023 · The book, “Air Born: Two Generations in Flight,” details the experiences Davis' father, Ben Smotherman, as a B-17 pilot who was shot down ...
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Sep 8, 2023 · “Air Born: Two Generations in Flight” details the mutually motivated careers and aerospace accomplishments of both Davis and her father, Ben Smotherman.
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Jan Davis was born at Patrick Air Force Base and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. She has been surrounded by aviation and space her entire life. Davis followed up ...Missing: background childhood
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[35]
Flight and Fight: Family Legacies of Service and Resilience
Nov 16, 2024 · Join authors Jan Davis and Kathleen Dorothy Blackburn for a powerful discussion on family legacy, military service, and resilience.Missing: speaking 2024
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[38]
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Oct 19, 2025 · I'm happy to announce that my first book “Air Born: Two Generations in Flight” hasbeen selected for inclusion in the 2025 Texas Book Festival, set to take place ...Texas Book Festival in Austin TX on Nov 16-17 - FacebookSpace Coast Space Related Activities Today - FacebookMore results from www.facebook.comMissing: engagements | Show results with:engagements
[39]
IdeaFest | The Launch Place | Jan Davis - LinkedIn
Jan 29, 2025 · Entrepreneurs! Don't miss the opportunity for pitch practice, exposure to investors, and some non-dilutive funding from The Launch Place!
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Pitch Please! | Jan Davis - LinkedIn
Sep 3, 2024 · I'm judging in the @Raleigh Founded Pitch Please 2024 event on September 11th from 6-8 pm! Pitch Please is a competition where I'll provide ...
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MARRIED COUPLE TO FLY IN SPACE - The Washington Post
Aug 12, 1992 · Lee and Davis were married in January 1991, 1 1/2 years after they were assigned to the mission. NASA has a policy barring couples on the same ...
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Love is in the Air: Great Couples of Aerospace History
Feb 14, 2018 · The couple, who met during training, were assigned to the STS-47 mission in 1989. Lee and Davis were married in January 1991, but didn't tell ...
[43]
For new station commander, spaceflight is all in the family
Apr 8, 2008 · They were married in 1990, launched in 1992 and separated in 1999. To have and to hold: Astronaut couple Jan Davis and Mark Lee together in ...
[44]
Astronaut Jan Davis talks about her father, new book - WHNT.com
Sep 3, 2023 · Her father was a B-17 pilot in World War II. During COVID, her sister had sent her their father's flight logs from the 21 months he spent as a ...Missing: siblings parents
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NASA ALLOWING COUPLE TO GO ON SPACE FLIGHT
But because Lee and Davis got married after being assigned to a 1992 scientific research mission, the agency decided against splitting them up. Lee and Davis ...