Voss remembered as source of inspiration to many


In this March 2007 photo, astronaut and former Kepler mission science office director Janice Voss inspects a printout depicting the star field as seen through Kepler's eyes. Photo courtesy of NASA photographer Dominic Hart

Feb. 13, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Janice Voss, one of Minnechaug Regional High School's brightest stars, passed away last week, losing her battle with breast cancer.

A member of Minnechaug's class of 1972, Voss was one of only six women who have flown in space five times, serving on five shuttle missions from 1993 through 2000. She orbited the Earth 779 times, traveling 18.8 million miles in more than 49 days in space.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Voss, 55, died on Feb. 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz., where she was receiving treatment.

Voss began her career at NASA shortly after graduation from Minnechaug as a co-op at the Johnson Space Center from 1973 to 1975 while a student at Purdue University. She earned her master's degree in electrical engineering in 1977 and later a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics in 1987 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She became an astronaut in 1991.

While she spent the majority of her career at NASA in the astronaut program, she was also the science office director for the Kepler mission, whose objective is to seek out planets like Earth in other solar systems.

"Janice had tremendous passion about her work and her personal interests," Marcie Smith, Kepler mission director, said. "She always thoroughly researched the task at hand to arrive at the best logical decision. She loved to encourage interest in Kepler and the manned space program with public talks and lectures."

Those who knew Voss from her days at Minnechaug said they were not surprised by her success in the NASA space program. Lani Giguere, a friend of Voss' sister Vicki, who even dated the same boy as Voss in high school — "at different times, of course" — said Voss' goals were always clear.

"While we were in high school Janice talked about her dream of becoming an astronaut. I could certainly see that happening," she said. "Even years after graduation I asked a mutual friend if he knew if she had ever seen her dream realized. This mutual friend was in touch with Janice and kept me up to date on her career. Finally the day came when I was contacted about her making it into the astronaut program. I was thrilled for her. For someone who had hung on to a dream for so long and to have it finally happen, we should all be so fortunate."

Daiva Garbus Gasperetti, a high school friend, reminisced of tobogganing parties hosted by the Voss family and characterized her as a tremendous student with a big heart.

"Janice was a great student. Her intelligence was remarkable, yet she was always modest, generous and kind," she said. "I was not surprised to learn of her successes as an astronaut."

Giguere added that Voss was quiet and serious and possessed "maturity beyond her years."

"There was a group of seven of us, which included Janice's sister Vicki and I, that shared a close bond in junior high and high school. Even though Janice was two years younger than we were, she was always welcomed to be a part of our group," she said. "We never saw her as Vicki's younger sister that was tagging along. Janice seemed to be more comfortable with older kids. She fit right in."

Doug Olsen and his brother Joseph lived down the street. He dated Voss, bringing her to the prom while his brother Joseph took her sister Vicki. Doug and Voss stayed in touch over the years as he was a member of the Air Force's space program. He said one of the things he always marveled at about Janice was her level of intelligence.

"She finished first in her class and I finished eighth and she was just so much smarter than me," he said with a laugh. "When you apply to be an astronaut, you need to get three recommendations and the last time she applied before getting accepted, she asked me to write something for her. When I did, the term I used to describe her was 'Renaissance woman.' It's one thing to be brilliant at science, but in high school she was also taking honors English and honors French. She did the best of everything."

Joseph Olsen, who now works for the Arab British Engine Company in Cairo, Egypt, also kept in touch with Voss when he was an engineer for Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, working on the main engine of the space shuttle at the same time she was flying her missions.

"Once when I and my three boys were in Houston visiting, Janice met us at the Johnson Space Center and while taking my boys around she told us a story of how in eighth grade she read a science fiction book from the 'Foundation Trilogy' by Isaac Asimov and as a result, she wanted to be an astronaut," he recalled. "She said that on her first space shuttle flight, she read that book again by earth light.

"That was one of the most fantastic things about Janice. Whether she was talking to a group of engineers or a group of third-graders, she could talk to any group and inspire them," he continued.

It was Voss that very day who inspired his oldest son, Mike, to become an aerospace engineer. He graduated in December, 2011 from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering.

"At one point we ended up in a full scale model of the space shuttle crew cabin, and she began explaining where she worked on her last mission to control the robot arm and move the earth topography mapping device," Mike Olsen said. "It didn't take long for people around us to pick up on the fact that she was a real astronaut. I remember feeling so impressed and inspired at the time, knowing that I knew a real astronaut. It was in that moment that I fell in love with space.

"Although I had only met her a couple times as a kid she has still to this day made a huge impact on my life. Thank you Janice for all you did, not just for me but for all mankind," he concluded.

Comments From Our Readers:

ttreyy 2/18/2012 10:41:10 AM	There is a tree planting ceremony in Astronaut Janice Voss's memory at the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, Texas on March 2, 2012. Contact kelli.graham-1@nasa.gov if you are interested in attending this event. Joseph Olsen Cairo, Egypt