Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Blaine Hammond!

Blaine Hammond, born January 16, 1952 in Savannah, Georgia, has been in space twice.  He became a pilot and an instructor in the US Air Force.

His first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-39) as pilot in April-May 1991.  Its main purpose was dedicated to the Department of Defense.

His second and last flight was aboard Discovery (STS-64) as pilot in September 1994.  The mission was the first untethered EVA in 10 years.

He spent over 19 days in space.

Discovery (STS-39) launched 1991

STS-39 crew (L-R): Charles Veach, Michael Coats, Gregory Harbaugh, Donald McMonagle, Blaine Hammond, Richard Hieb, Guion Bluford

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery, launched April 28, 1991, carried experiments for the Department of Defense into space.  Its crew consisted of Commander Michael Coats, Pilot Blaine Hammond, Gregory Harbaugh, Donald McMonagle, Guion Bluford, Charles Veach, and Richard Hieb.

They returned to Earth May 6.

Discovery (STS-64) launched 1994

STS-64 crew

Front Row (L-R): Blaine Hammond, Richard Richards, Susan Helms

Back Row (L-R): Mark Lee, Jerry Linenger, Carl Meade

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-64) launched September 9, 1994. Its crew consisted of Commander Richard Richards, Pilot Blaine Hammond, Jerry Linenger, Susan Helms, Carl Meade, and Mark Lee.

Lee and Meade conducted an untethered EVA to test a new backpack called Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), designed to be used in the event a crew member becomes untethered during a spacewalk.

They returned to Earth September 20.