News NASA astronaut Janice Voss has died

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collectSPACE: NASA astronaut Janice Voss dies, flew on five space shuttle missions:

February 7, 2012 – Astronaut Janice Voss, a veteran of five spaceflights and a former science director for a NASA exoplanet-hunting spacecraft, died Monday night (Feb. 7) after a battle with cancer. She was 55.

"Just got the very sad news that U.S. astronaut Janice Voss passed away last night," the Association of Space Explorers, an international organization representing more than 350 individuals who have flown in space, wrote on Facebook. "Our thoughts go out to her family and friends."

Chosen by NASA for the astronaut corps in January 1990, Voss served as mission specialist on five space shuttle missions, including the only re-flight in the program's 30 year history. She flew with the first commercial laboratory, rendezvoused with Russia's Mir space station and helped create the most complete digital topographic map of the Earth.

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R.I.P.

 

[Urwumpe]

The best die young.

 

[garyw]

Another loss to the NASA community. My condolances to her friends and family.

 

[Interceptor]

Terrible loss,the good die young.RIP

 

[Fabri91]

Very sad loss to hear. My thoughts go to her relatives and friends.

 

[Yoda]

Very sad news; way too young !

 

[ADSWNJ]

Sad to see she died so young. Celebrate her life though: she must have lived her own version of the American Dream!

I just wonder if there is any linkage between 5 trips in space and early cancer? There must be a statistically higher risk, I assume, but probably impossible to quantify whether it was significant in her too-soon passing.

Rest in peace Janice. One of our heroines.

 

[littleplatonian]

She lived an exciting life...

during one of the most exciting times in earth history, spaceflight and modern cosmology. She will be missed.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Very sad news. May she rest in peace.

 

[NovaSilisko]

It's always a tragedy when an astronaut/cosmonaut passes. May she explore the solar system in spirit from now until forever!