Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Bryan O'Connor!

Bryan O'Connor, born September 6, 1946 in Orange, California, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights.

His first flight was as pilot on Atlantis (STS-61-B) November-December 1985.  The mission deployed three communication satellites and tested constructing structures in orbit.

His second was as Commander on Columbia (STS-40) in June 1991.  It was the first space lab mission dedicated solely to biology and the first mission to include three women astronauts.

Columbia (STS-40) launched 1991

STS-40 crew 

Front row (L-R):  Drew Gaffney, Millie Hughes-Fulford, Rhea Seddon, James Bagian; 

Back row (L-R): Bryan O'Connor, Tamara Jernigan, Sidney Gutierrez

Mission insignia

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-40), launched June 5, 1991, was the first mission dedicated entirely to biology.  Its crew consisted of Commander Bryan O'Connor, Pilot Sidney Gutierrez, James Bagian, Tamara Jernigan, Rhea Seddon, Drew Gaffney and Millie Hughes-Fulford.  It was also the first mission to carry three female astronauts.

They carried out experiments on themselves, 30 rodents and thousands of tiny jellyfish.

Columbia returned to Earth June 14.

Atlantis (STS-61-B) launches 1985

Back row L-R: Charles Walker, Jerry Ross, Mary Cleave, Sherwood Spring, Rodolfo Neri Vela

Front row L-R: Bryan O'Connor, Brewster Shaw

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 26, 1985 from Kennedy Space Center for the 23rd mission of the shuttle program.  The takeoff came just 54 days after the launch of STS-51-J, the quickest turnaround between launches.  Her crew consisted of Commander Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, Mission Specialist 1 Jerry Ross, Mission Specialist 2 Mary Cleave, Mission Specialist 3 Sherwood Spring, Payload Specialist Charles Walker and Payload Specialist 2 Rodolfo Neri Vela.

Vela is the first Mexican astronaut in space.  Jerry Ross and Sherwood Spring performed two EVAs to demonstrate the feasibility of assembling large structures in space.

Atlantis returned to Earth December 3 at Edwards Air Force Base.