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Nancy Jan Davis (née Smotherman; born November 1, 1953) is a former American astronaut. A veteran of three space flights, Davis logged over 673 hours in space. She is now retired from NASA.[1][2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Nancy Jan Davis graduated from Huntsville High School in 1971.[3] She received a Bachelor of Science degree in applied biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1975 and another in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in 1977.[3] She received a Master of Science degree in 1983 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1985, both in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.[4]

Engineering career

[edit]

After graduating from Auburn University in 1977, Davis joined Texaco in Bellaire, Texas, working as a petroleum engineer in tertiary oil recovery. She left there in 1979 to work for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center as an aerospace engineer. In 1986, she was named as team leader in the Structural Analysis Division, and her team was responsible for the structural analysis and verification of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the HST maintenance mission, and the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility. In 1987, she was also assigned to be the lead engineer for the redesign of the solid rocket booster external tank attach ring. Davis did her graduate research at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, studying the long-term strength of pressure vessels due to the viscoelastic characteristics of filament-wound composites. She holds one patent, has authored several technical papers, and is a Registered Professional Engineer.[2]

Astronaut career

[edit]

Davis became an astronaut in June 1987.[2] Her first assignment was in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch, where she provided technical support for Space Shuttle payloads.[5] Following this, Davis was a CAPCOM in Mission Control, responsible for communicating with Shuttle crews for seven missions. After her first space flight, Davis served as the Astronaut Office representative for the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), with responsibility for RMS operations, training, and payloads. After her second space flight, she served as the Chairperson of the NASA Education Working Group and as Chief for the Payloads Branch, which provided Astronaut Office support for all Shuttle and International Space Station payloads. A veteran of three space flights, Davis has logged over 673 hours in space. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-47 in 1992 and STS-60 in 1994, and was the payload commander on STS-85 in 1997.[6]

STS-47

[edit]

STS-47, Spacelab-J, was the 50th Space Shuttle mission. Launched on September 12, 1992,[7] this cooperative venture between the United States and Japan conducted 43 experiments in life sciences and materials processing. During the eight-day mission, she was responsible for operating Spacelab and its subsystems and performing a variety of experiments. Davis's then-husband Mark C. Lee was payload commander on STS-47. After completing 126 orbits of the Earth, STS-47 Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center on September 20, 1992.[8]

STS-60

[edit]

STS-60 was the second flight of Spacehab (Space Habitation Module) and the first flight of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). Launched on February 3, 1994, this flight was the first Space Shuttle flight on which a Russian cosmonaut was a crew member. During the eight-day mission, her prime responsibility was to maneuver the WSF on the RMS, to conduct thin film crystal growth and she was also responsible for performing scientific experiments in the Spacehab. The STS-60 Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center on February 11, 1994, after completing 130 orbits of the Earth.[9]

STS-85

[edit]
Davis operating the RMS on STS-85

Davis was the payload commander for STS-85, which was launched on Discovery on August 7, 1997. During this 12-day mission, Davis deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS payload, and operated the Japanese Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) robotic arm. The mission also included several other scientific payloads for the conduct of research on astronomy, Earth sciences, life sciences, and materials science. The mission was accomplished in 189 Earth orbits, traveling 4.7 million miles. The STS-85 Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center on August 19, 1997.[10]

Later NASA career

[edit]
Jan Davis in 2024.

After her flight on STS-85, Davis was assigned to NASA Headquarters as the Director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS), Independent Assurance Office for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance. In that position, Davis managed and directed independent assessments for the programs and projects assigned to the HEDS enterprise. In July 1999, she transferred to the Marshall Space Flight Center as Director of the Flight Projects Directorate, which was responsible for the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Operations Center, ISS hardware and the Chandra X-ray Observatory Program. After the Columbia accident, she was named head of Safety and Mission Assurance at Marshall, where she assured the safe return to flight of the Space Shuttle.[2] Davis retired from NASA in 2005 and worked for Jacobs Engineering Group as a Vice President and Deputy General Manager.[2] She currently works for Bastion Technologies, Inc. as the Safety and Mission Assurance Support Contract Program Manager at the Marshall Space Flight Center.[11]

In 2023, Davis authored her first book "Air Born - Two Generations in Flight", about her father who was a WWII B-17 pilot and POW, and her own space flight career, using comparisons of their two careers.[12] In 2024, she published a companion book to the first, "Air Born - Artistic Musings of a WWII Pilot and POW," which includes her father's POW Wartime Log and the 96 PENNY cartoon he drew for the Stalag Luft III newspaper.

Personal life

[edit]

Davis married fellow astronaut Mark C. Lee, in January 1991.[13] They were the first married couple to fly together in space, joined in 2022 by Sharon and Marc Hagle on Blue Origin's NS-20. They divorced in 1999.[14]

She is married to former Judge Schuyler Richardson.[15]

Medals and honors

[edit]

She has been awarded the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1998,[5] the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1995 and 2002,[2] and the NASA Space Flight Medal in 1992, 1994, and 1997, the NASA Fellowship for Full-Time Study in 1983, the ASME National Old Guard Prize in 1978, the ASME Ralph Coates Roe Medal in 2001. She has been inducted to the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame, the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame,[3] and the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive.[16]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jan Davis

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from Grokipedia
Nancy Jan Davis (born November 1, 1953) is an American , former , and industry executive who flew on three missions, logging a total of 673 hours in space while orbiting Earth 445 times and traveling approximately 11 million miles. Born in , Davis grew up in , a hub of activity that influenced her career path. She earned a B.S. in applied biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1975, followed by a B.S. in from in 1977. Davis then pursued advanced studies at the , obtaining an M.S. in in 1983 and a Ph.D. in 1985. Early in her career, she worked as a petroleum for from 1977 to 1979 before joining at the as an , where she contributed to projects, including for the . Selected as an astronaut candidate in 1987, Davis served in various roles, including as a capsule communicator () and chief of the Payloads Branch, before her first spaceflight. Her missions included on in 1992, where she was a on the Spacelab-J flight focused on microgravity experiments; 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. After her flights, she advanced to leadership positions at , serving as director of the Flight Projects Directorate and later Safety and Mission Assurance at Marshall from 1999 to 2005. Davis retired from in 2005 and joined Jacobs as vice president and deputy general manager of the Engineering and Services and Skills Augmentation (ESSSA) Group supporting , a role she held until 2016, after which she became a technical fellow with the company. Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the (three awards), Exceptional Service Medal, and induction into the Aviation and Engineering Halls of Fame in 2001.

Early life and education

Family background and childhood

Nancy Jan Davis was born on November 1, 1953, at Patrick Air Force Base in . Her family relocated to , in 1963 when she was 10 years old, during her elementary school years, and she considers her hometown. Growing up in this aerospace hub near , Davis was immersed in the burgeoning space program, where the testing of rocket engines was a frequent occurrence that shaped her early environment. Davis's father, Benjamin "Ben" Smotherman, profoundly influenced her passion for aviation; he served as a B-17 pilot during , was shot down over in July 1943, and endured 22 months as a . 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. 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 , positivity, and amid the challenges of his two divorces and raising three children with support. 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. She graduated from Huntsville High School in 1971, marking the end of her formative years before pursuing higher education.

Academic achievements

Jan Davis began her higher education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she earned a in applied in 1975. She then pursued studies at , obtaining a in in 1977. These undergraduate degrees provided a strong foundation in both biological sciences and engineering principles, aligning with her interests in interdisciplinary applications. Davis continued her graduate education at the (UAH), completing a in in 1983. She followed this with a in 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 analysis and structural integrity, contributing to her expertise in aerospace-related engineering challenges. 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.

Pre-NASA engineering career

Private industry roles

After graduating with a in from in 1977, Jan Davis joined in , as a petroleum engineer, where she worked from 1977 to 1979. 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. 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. This work honed her skills in applied within a corporate environment, emphasizing practical problem-solving for resource extraction challenges. Davis left in 1979 to pursue opportunities in , transitioning to a position at 's that aligned with her growing interest in space-related technologies.

Initial NASA positions

Jan Davis joined 's (MSFC) in , in 1979 as an , marking the start of her career in space hardware development. Her initial responsibilities focused on for launch vehicles and related systems, building on her prior experience in . 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 . 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. She also pursued advanced studies at the , earning a in 1983 and a doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1985, with research on the strength of filament-wound composite pressure vessels. In 1986, Davis was promoted to in the Structural Analysis Division at MSFC, overseeing a group responsible for the and verification of the , its planned maintenance mission hardware, and the Advanced Astrophysics Facility. Under her leadership, the team addressed complex challenges in finite element modeling and simulations to validate assembly integrity for these orbital observatories. Following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which highlighted vulnerabilities in the (SRB) system, Davis was appointed in 1987 as lead engineer for the redesign of the SRB's external tank attach ring. 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. Through these contributions, Davis advanced NASA's focus on propulsion reliability and structural robustness prior to her transition to the astronaut program.

Astronaut selection and missions

Selection and training

Jan Davis was selected as an astronaut candidate in , announced on June 5, 1987, a class comprising 15 individuals that included three women—Davis, , and —representing a notable advancement in female inclusion within the astronaut corps after the 1986 Challenger disaster. Her qualifications for selection highlighted her extensive engineering background at NASA's (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. Upon joining the , Davis underwent the comprehensive astronaut candidate training program from 1987 to 1991, designed to prepare candidates for operations. This regimen encompassed wilderness and water survival training to handle potential landing scenarios, flight training in T-38 Talon aircraft to build 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. 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. She also trained specifically as an RMS representative, gaining expertise in operating the shuttle's robotic arm for payload deployment and retrieval. After completing training and qualifying as a in 1991, Davis was appointed Payloads Branch, where she managed the integration of scientific experiments and hardware for shuttle missions, ensuring compatibility with vehicle systems and crew operations.

STS-47 mission

STS-47 marked Jan Davis's first spaceflight as a aboard the , which launched from on September 12, 1992, at 10:23 a.m. EDT. The mission, designated Spacelab-J, represented a collaborative effort between and Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) to conduct 43 experiments focused on life sciences and microgravity research, including studies on human physiology, , animal development, and materials processing in weightlessness. These investigations utilized the pressurized module in the shuttle's bay to simulate extended microgravity conditions, advancing understanding of biological adaptations and material behaviors beyond Earth's gravity. 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. Her duties emphasized precise coordination within the seven-member crew, highlighting the teamwork essential for executing complex scientific protocols in a confined orbital environment. The mission's international scope fostered cross-cultural collaboration, with Japanese payload specialist Mamoru Mohri contributing expertise on NASDA-sponsored studies. A notable historic aspect of was the presence of Davis and her husband, payload commander , as the first married couple to fly together , an event that garnered widespread media attention and public fascination regarding interpersonal dynamics in orbit. had previously maintained an unwritten policy discouraging the assignment of married s 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. 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 , with Endeavour landing smoothly at on September 20, 1992, at 8:53 a.m. EDT on runway 33. Davis later described the zero-gravity experience as transformative, offering unique insights into and crew interdependence that enhanced mission efficiency and scientific outcomes.

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. 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. As a , Davis contributed to payload operations alongside commander Charles F. Bolden Jr., pilot Kenneth S. Reightler Jr., and fellow s 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. 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 by integrating Krikalev's expertise in long-duration spaceflight. The international crew dynamics required coordination across language and procedural differences, fostering early lessons in joint operations that emphasized shared objectives and cross-training. briefly on her prior experience from , Davis efficiently managed complex maneuvers, enhancing the mission's scientific productivity. 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 designed to create a environment in its wake for growing ultra-thin films used in semiconductors and superconductors. On flight day four, attempts to fully deploy WSF-1 as a free-flying were aborted due to anomalies in its attitude , leading to tethered operations from the ; nonetheless, five of seven planned thin-film growth experiments succeeded, producing high-quality samples. Complementing this, the crew activated the Spacehab-2 module in the payload bay, conducting 14 middeck experiments from seven nations focused on —such as and alloy processing—and , including protein crystallization and studies to advance pharmaceutical and industrial applications. The mission concluded with a smooth landing on February 11, 1994, at Kennedy Space Center's after 3,439,704 miles traveled, despite the WSF maneuvering hurdles that tested the crew's adaptability. Overall, demonstrated the feasibility of multinational collaboration in microgravity research, yielding data that informed future joint endeavors.

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. 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. The mission lasted 11 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes, and 47 seconds, completing 185 orbits of Earth and covering approximately 4.7 million miles. 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 . Released shortly after orbit insertion, CRISTA-SPAS conducted observations of Earth's middle atmosphere, collecting data on trace gases and profiles over more than 200 hours of independent flight to advance understanding of atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. 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. 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 —a compact robotic manipulator intended for the International Space Station's Japanese Experiment Module. Mounted on a in the , the MFD involved a series of robotic maneuvers to simulate assembly tasks in microgravity, including grappling and positioning, with Davis coordinating activities for on and control systems. Additional experiments under her purview included microgravity research in life sciences and materials processing, as well as via the Technology Applications and Science-1 (TAS-1) package, contributing to broader goals in and validation. 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. Across her three shuttle missions, Davis accumulated over 673 hours in space, solidifying her contributions to NASA's human spaceflight program.

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. 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. 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. From 1997 to July 1999, Davis led efforts in , policy development, and audits for HEDS activities, focusing on identifying potential hazards in space station assembly, shuttle integrations, and exploration technologies. This included directing independent reviews to verify compliance with safety standards and mitigate operational risks, contributing to enhanced protocols for reliability during a period of evolving program architectures. Her leadership helped strengthen 's assurance framework by integrating engineering insights from flight-tested systems into administrative oversight. In 1999, Davis was promoted within the Senior Executive Service and reassigned to the , concluding her headquarters tenure.

Marshall Space Flight Center roles

In 1999, Jan Davis returned to NASA's (MSFC) following her assignment at , where she had served as director of the Human Exploration and Development of Space Independent Assurance Office. Initially appointed as deputy director of the Flight Projects Directorate, she was named director in 2001, a position she held until August 2003. In this role, she led a team of over 1,400 civil servants and contractors responsible for managing key elements of the (ISS) program, including the Payload Operations Center, Nodes 2 and 3, Multi-purpose Logistics Modules, and the Regenerative Environment Control and , as well as the project. Following the in February 2003, Davis was appointed director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at MSFC in August 2003, succeeding Amanda Goodson. In this capacity, she oversaw safety, reliability, and activities across all MSFC programs and personnel, with a focus on risk assessment, policy compliance, and mission certification for initiatives to support the agency's return-to-flight efforts. Her leadership contributed to the implementation of recommendations from the (CAIB), emphasizing organizational changes to enhance safety practices at the center. She held this position until her retirement from in October 2005, after 26 years of federal service. Davis received the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1998 for her prior contributions to 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 .

Post-NASA career

Engineering consultancy

Upon retiring from NASA in October 2005, Jan Davis joined Jacobs Sverdrup Engineering, Science, and Technical Services as and of the Engineering, Science, Services, and Skills Augmentation (ESSSA) Group at NASA's (MSFC) in . In this role, she oversaw the management of and technical services contracts supporting NASA's programs, providing multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists for space hardware development and related without holding federal employment. 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. Her work at Jacobs focused on ensuring the reliability and innovation in hardware design and testing for programs like the , emphasizing mission assurance through rigorous technical oversight. She served in this capacity for eleven years until 2016, after which she transitioned to Technologies, Inc., as Program Manager and Senior Technical Fellow for the Safety and Mission Assurance Services Contract at MSFC. At , Davis led efforts in analysis, risk assessment, and mission assurance for propulsion and exploration initiatives, continuing her consultancy in a non-federal role while supporting hardware integration and certification processes. She served in this role from 2017 to 2020, after which she retired from her engineering consultancy positions.

Authorship and public speaking

In 2023, Jan Davis published her Air Born: Two Generations in Flight, which chronicles her career as a alongside her father Ben Smotherman's experiences as a B-17 pilot during , including his time as a . The book draws parallels between their aviation legacies, emphasizing themes of service, resilience, and family influence in aerospace history. 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. This work provides an intimate look at Smotherman's creative output as a means of and amid wartime challenges. As an author, Davis has promoted her books through various public appearances, including a session at the Book Festival in November 2024, where she discussed family legacies of service and resilience. She also participated in book signings at , engaging audiences with conversations about her and her father's flight histories. In 2025, Davis presented at in New Orleans on April 15, sharing insights from both books during a "Meet the Author" event. 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. Her presentations often highlight motivational lessons from her and family heritage, tailored for conferences, schools, and corporate events. As of 2025, Davis remains active in promoting her work, with her first book selected for inclusion in the Book Festival and ongoing engagements listed on her professional calendar. She shares updates on these activities via , including participation in entrepreneurial events and pitch competitions that align with her expertise in and leadership.

Personal life and recognition

Family and relationships

Jan Davis married fellow astronaut in January 1991, after they had already been assigned together to the mission in 1989. , 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 . However, the agency subsequently formalized its ethics policy to bar joint missions for married astronauts moving forward. Davis and Lee divorced in 1999. 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. 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.

Awards and honors

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

References

  1. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/davis_n-jan.pdf
  2. https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/jan-davis/
  3. https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-jan-davis-book-air-born
  4. https://www.girlscouts.org/en/our-stories/alumnae/jan-davis-out-of-this-world-exploring-a-career-in-stem.html
  5. https://www.uah.edu/news/campus/astronaut-alumna-jan-davis-eighty-three-to-eighty-five-to-deliver-uah-fall-commencement-address
  6. https://www.eng.auburn.edu/organizations/AIAA/Jan_Davis.html
  7. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/578805main_star110803.pdf
  8. http://www.astronautix.com/n/nasa-12astrnautgroup1987.html
  9. https://www.nasa.gov/history/SP-4225/documentation/mission-summaries/sts60/biographies/biographies.htm
  10. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/09/03/Astronaut-candidates-undergo-survival-training/9365557640000/
  11. https://www.nasa.gov/history/40-years-ago-nasa-selects-its-10th-group-of-astronauts/
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  13. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20100042568/downloads/20100042568.pdf
  14. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/06/Married-astronauts-can-fly-together-NASA-says/6048668235600/
  15. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-60/
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  18. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19950019769/downloads/19950019769.pdf
  19. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-85/
  20. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jan-davis-8ba6ba7
  21. https://oig.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ig-01-017.pdf?emrc=6705b673cfbd8
  22. https://spacenews.com/dr-jan-davis-named-nasa-marshall-center-safety-and-mission-assurance-director/
  23. https://astronautjandavis.com/about
  24. https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/person/nancy-jan-davis/
  25. https://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2020/01/300759-jan-davis.php
  26. https://www.astrafemina.org/file_download/inline/d6ce1a6b-a7d8-4fb1-9a51-6c947f411400
  27. https://events.uschamber.com/Launch2020/speaker/178287/n.-jan-davis
  28. https://www.al.com/news/2023/07/huntsville-astronaut-jan-davis-recounts-familys-history-in-flight-in-book.html
  29. https://eng.auburn.edu/news/2023/09/auburn-alumna-jan-davis-publishes-memoir
  30. https://www.amazon.com/Air-Born-Two-Generations-Flight/dp/1955026769
  31. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/events-programs/events/136396-meet-author-jan-davis-air-born-two-generations-flight-and-air-born
  32. https://www.mightyeighth.org/events/author-talk-air-born-artistic-musings-of-a-wwii-pilot-pow-with-jan-davis-phd/
  33. https://vintageaviationnews.com/aviation-museum-news/author-talk-air-born-artistic-musings-of-a-wwii-pilot-pow-with-jan-davis-phd.html
  34. https://texasbookfestival.org/schedule/flight-and-fight-family-legacies-of-service-and-resilience/
  35. https://spacecenter.org/featured_events/book-signing-jan-davis/
  36. https://astronautjandavis.com/speaking
  37. https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacehipsters/posts/8656449651066508/
  38. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janldavis_ideafest-the-launch-place-activity-7290436607822708736-eb1U
  39. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janldavis_pitch-please-activity-7236768015227179009-7aL5
  40. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/national/1992/08/12/married-couple-to-fly-in-space/da2eb9e1-2b57-4328-af35-6d647560246b/
  41. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/love-air-great-couples-aerospace-history
  42. https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-040808a.html
  43. https://whnt.com/news/leadership-perspectives/astronaut-jan-davis-talks-about-her-father-new-book/
  44. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1991/rt9103/910306/03061180.htm
  45. https://humsci.auburn.edu/iqla/index.php
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