Four separate space flights define the career of Mark C. Lee, an American astronaut and military officer who logged 33 days in orbit. Traveling over 13 million miles throughout his tenure with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, he contributed to critical orbital assembly and maintenance programs before retiring from service in 2001.
Early Education and Military Service
Born in Viroqua, Wisconsin, in 1952, Lee graduated from Viroqua High School before enrolling at the United States Air Force Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1974. Following pilot training, he completed assignments at Kadena Air Base, Japan, flying F-4 aircraft. He later obtained a Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980, focusing on advanced composite materials. Before his selection as an astronaut, he served as an operational support manager at Hanscom Air Force Base and later flew F-16s at Hill Air Force Base.
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Selected by NASA in 1984, Lee completed his training in 1985. His flight experience began with STS-30 in 1989, which deployed the Magellan Venus-exploration probe. In 1992, he served as payload commander for STS-47, a collaborative mission with Japan. During STS-64 in 1994, he conducted an untethered spacewalk to test a self-rescue jetpack. His final mission, STS-82 in 1997, involved critical maintenance on the Hubble Space Telescope, where he performed three spacewalks to install new spectrometers and hardware.
Professional Contributions and Retirement
Beyond his flight duties, Lee held numerous technical and leadership roles within NASA. He served as the Lead Astronaut Support Person at Kennedy Space Center and held leadership positions in the EVA Robotics and Mission Development branches. He managed Space Station assembly issues and worked as a spacecraft communicator. Although scheduled for a mission in 2000, he was removed from the flight manifest and subsequently retired from both the United States Air Force and NASA on July 1, 2001.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Viroqua, Wisconsin
- Military Rank: Colonel
- Education: United States Air Force Academy; Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Total Space Flights: 4
- Total Spacewalks: 4
- Awards: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1998); Distinguished Flying Cross
- Retirement Date: July 1, 2001
- Distinction: First married couple to fly in space together
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of Lee's flight on STS-47?
He and his wife at the time, fellow astronaut Jan Davis, became the first married couple to fly on the same space mission.
How many spacewalks did Lee conduct?
Lee completed four extravehicular activities in total: one during STS-64 and three during STS-82.
Achievements
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at United States Air Force Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Viroqua High School
- Worked as military officer, astronaut and aircraft pilot
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