Discovery (STS-51) launched 1993

STS-51 crew (L-R): Frank Culbertson, Daniel Bursch, Carl Walz, William Readdy, James Newman

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51), launched September 12, 1993, featured a spacewalk to evaluate tools and techniques for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, which was to be performed later in the year.  Her crew consisted of Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot William Readdy, Mission Specialist James Newman, Mission Specialist Daniel Bursch, and Mission Specialist Carl Walz. 

After liftoff, a communications loss between the crew and Mission Control last about 45 minutes, delaying the deployment of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS).  Once communications were re-established, the ACTS was deployed successfully.

On September 16, Newman and Walz performed an EVA to evaluate plans to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, and concluded that preparations were sound.

The crew returned to Earth September 22, 1993 after completing 157 orbits.

Atlantis (STS-79) launched 1996

STS-79 crew

Front Row (L-R): Jay Apt, Terrence Wilcutt, William Readdy, Thomas Akers, Carl Walz 

Back Row (L-R): Shannon Lucid, John Blaha

STS-79 mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-79), launched September 16, 1996, was the fourth mission of a space shuttle with the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander William Readdy, Pilot Terrence Wilcutt, Jay Apt, Thomas Akers, Carl Walz, and John Blaha. 

It was also the first transfer of American astronauts.  Atlantis picked up Shannon Lucid after her record-breaking stay in space and dropped off John Blaha as part of Mir EO-22.

They returned to Earth September 26.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Carl Walz!

Carl Walz, born September 6, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights. 

His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-51) as mission specialist in September 1993.  He and fellow astronaut Jim Newman performed an EVA to evaluate tools and procedures for a Hubble Telescope maintenance flight later in the year.

His second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-65) as mission specialist in July 1994.  The mission included the second flight of the International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2).

Walz's third mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-79) as mission specialist in September 1996.  Shannon Lucid returned from Mir after her record-breaking stay.

His fourth and final mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-108) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in December 2001.  Walz was part of Expedition 4.  He returned to Earth in June 2002 aboard Endeavour (STS-111).

Columbia (STS-65) launched 1994

STS-65 crew 

Seated (L-R): Richard Hieb, Robert Cabana, Donald Thomas

Standing (L-R): Leroy Chiao, James Halsell, Chiaki Mukai, Carl Walz

Mission patch

Space shuttle Columbia (STS-65), launched July 8, 1994, was the second flight of the Spacelab to conduct research in a microgravity environment. Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Cabana, Pilot James Halsell, Richard Hieb, Carl Walz, Leroy Chiao, Donald Thomas, and Chiaki Mukai.

They returned to Earth July 23.

Endeavour (STS-108) launched 2001

L-R: Mark Kelly, Linda Godwin, Daniel Tani, Dominic Pudwill Gorie

Mission Patch

Endeavour (STS-108) launched December 5, 2001, was the first mission after the 9/11 attacks and the crew honored the victims during the flight.  Endeavour's crew was Commander Dominic Pudwill Gorie, Pilot Mark E. Kelly, Mission Specialist Linda Godwin and Mission Specialist Daniel Tani.

She carried the crew of Expedition 4 to the International Space Station: Yuri Onufrienko, Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch.  On her return, she brought back the crew of Expedition 3: Frank Culbertson, Mikhail Turin, and Vladimir Dezhurov.

An American flag that was recovered the morning of Sept 12, 2001 from the site of the World Trade Center wreckage, a USMC flag recovered from the Pentagon and an American flag flown over the State Capital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania flew on the Endeavour that mission.

Also, 23 badges of fallen NYPD officers and 6000 small American flags to honor those lost flew on the Space shuttle.  The 6000 flags were given to families who lost loved ones on 9/11.

During the mission Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani performed an EVA which lasted a little over 4 hours.  Endeavour landed on December 17.