This American flag pin from the Southwestern Bell Veterans in 1998 belonged to astronaut David Brown, a mission specialist who flew in space for the first time as a member of the crew of STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia mission that disintegrated upon reentry on February 1, 2003. A flight surgeon and a naval aviator, Brown was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in April 1996. After two years of training and evaluation, he qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Aboard STS-107, Brown logged 15 days, 22 hours, and 20 minutes in space.
Doug Brown, Dave Brown's brother, gave the pin to the National Collection in 2006.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.