Photo: NASA / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
David M. Brown's resume genuinely stops me cold: Navy captain, physician, astronaut — and once a circus performer. That range speaks to a relentless, curious kind of courage. His first and only spaceflight ended in the 2003 Columbia disaster during reentry, a loss that still lands heavily. The posthumous Congressional Space Medal of Honor only underscores what was sacrificed at the very summit of a dream. I find his story a sober reminder of the human cost behind exploration, and of how much we owe to people willing to climb that high knowing the risk.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- David M. Brown
- Name (Japanese)
- デイビッド・ブラウン
- Reading
- でいびっど・ぶらうん
- Born
- April 16, 1956 – February 1, 2003
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Monkey
- Origin
- Arlington County, Virginia, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- military officer / astronaut / physician / circus performer
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Yorktown High School
- University
- College of William & Mary
Awards & achievements
- 2004 Congressional Space Medal of Honor
- 2003 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- NASA Space Flight Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was David M. Brown born?
April 16, 1956 – February 1, 2003.
Where is David M. Brown from?
David M. Brown is from Arlington County, Virginia, United States.
What does David M. Brown do?
David M. Brown works as military officer, astronaut, physician, circus performer.
Military officer — see all → · Astronaut — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.