Janice E. Voss
Encyclopedia
Janice Elaine Voss (born October 8, 1956) is an American
engineer
and a NASA
astronaut
. She has flown in space five times.
in 1972. She earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Purdue University
while working on a co-op at the Johnson Space Center. She earned an S.M. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 1977. She then earned her doctorate in aeronautics/astronautics from MIT in 1987.
in the area of flight operations support.
(1993), STS-63 (1995), STS-83
(1997), STS-94
(1997) and STS-99
(2000).
Voss was the Science Director for NASA's Kepler Space Observatory, which launched in March 2009, from October 2004 to November 2007. She is now the Payloads Lead of the Astronaut Office Station Branch.
she considers Rockford, Illinois
her hometown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. She has flown in space five times.
Education
Voss graduated from Minnechaug Regional High SchoolMinnechaug Regional High School
Minnechaug Regional High School is a public high school located in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and has a student population of approximately 1,400. It is the flagship school of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District. The current principal is Mr. Stephen Hale...
in 1972. She earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
while working on a co-op at the Johnson Space Center. She earned an S.M. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 1977. She then earned her doctorate in aeronautics/astronautics from MIT in 1987.
Engineering career
She worked for Orbital Sciences CorporationOrbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation is an American company which specializes in the manufacturing and launch of satellites. Its Launch Systems Group is heavily involved with missile defense launch systems...
in the area of flight operations support.
NASA career
Voss was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1990; she has since flown as a mission specialist on missions STS-57STS-57
STS-57 was a Shuttle-Spacehab mission of that launched 21 June 1993 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.-Crew:-Mission parameters:**Mass:**Orbiter landing with payload: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee:...
(1993), STS-63 (1995), STS-83
STS-83
STS-83 was a mission of the United States Space Shuttle Columbia.-Crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Landing with payload: **MSL-1 Spacelab Module: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 28.5°...
(1997), STS-94
STS-94
STS-94 was a mission of the United States Space Shuttle Columbia, launched on 1 July 1997.-Crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Landing with payload: **MSL-1 Spacelab Module: *Perigee: *Apogee:...
(1997) and STS-99
STS-99
STS-99 was a Space Shuttle Endeavour mission, that launched on 11 February 2000 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The primary objective of the mission was the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission project.-Crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass:...
(2000).
Voss was the Science Director for NASA's Kepler Space Observatory, which launched in March 2009, from October 2004 to November 2007. She is now the Payloads Lead of the Astronaut Office Station Branch.
Personal
She was previously married but is now divorced. Although born in South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
she considers Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
her hometown.