Happy birthday, cosmonaut Anatoly Artsebarsky!

Anatoly Artsebarsky, born September 9, 1956 in the former Soviet Union, went into space aboard Soyuz TM-12 as commander in May 1991.  He was part of expedition Mir EO-9 with Sergei Krikalev and Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space.  He conducted six spacewalks while on Mir, lasting over 33 hours total. 

During the mission, the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev occurred which led to the end of the Soviet Union in December.  Artsebarsky returned to Earth in October 1991.

Helen Sharman, first Briton in space 1991

Dr. Helen Sharman, a food chemist for Mars Company in England, answered a radio advertisement to be the first British astronaut, no experience required.

Who knew being an astronaut was a walk-on job?

A mere 18 months after being selected, Sharman blasted off with fellow cosmonauts Anatoly Artsebarsky and Sergei Krikalev in Soyuz TM-12 May 18, 1991.  She spent 8 days in space, conducting medical and agricultural experiments, taking pictures and talking on the radio to school children.  She returned on Soyuz TM-11 with cosmonauts Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov.