Endeavour (STS-118) launched 2007

STS-118 crew (L-R): Richard Mastracchio, Barbara Morgan, Charles Hobaugh, Scott Kelly,  Tracy Caldwell, Dafydd Williams, Alvin Drew.

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118), launched August 8, 2007 to the International Space Station, was the first flight of Endeavour since the Columbia disaster in 2003.  Its crew consisted of Commander Scott Kelly, Pilot Charles Hobaugh, Tracy Caldwell, Richard Mastracchio, Dafydd Williams, Barbara Morgan and Alvin Drew.

Barbara Morgan had trained as a backup to Christa McAuliffe as NASA's Teacher in Space, but that ended with the Challenger disaster.  However, when Morgan flew on STS-118, she was not considered a Mission Specialist Educator, but rather a Mission Specialist who had once been a teacher.  During the mission, she spoke to school children on Earth.

Four EVAs were conducted by Rick Mastracchio, Dafydd Williams and Clayton Anderson, who had arrived on the ISS with STS-117. 

They returned to Earth August 21.

Atlantis (STS-104) launched 2001

STS-104 crew.  Seated (L-R): Seated - Charles O. Hobaugh, Steven W. Lindsey; 

Standing (L-R) - Michael L. Gernhardt, Janet L. Kavandi, James F. Reilly

Mission patch

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-104), launched July 12, 2001, was a installation and repair mission to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Steven Lindsey, Pilot Charles Hobaugh, Michael Gernhardt, Janet Kavandi, and James Reilly.

The mission installed the Quest airlock, which is the primary entrance and egress for spacewalks.  Gernhardt and Reilly performed three EVAs lasting over 16 hours total. 

They returned to Earth July 22.

Atlantis (STS-129) launched 2009

Front row (L-R): Charles Hobaugh, Barry Wilmore

Back row (L-R): Leland Melvin, Michael Foreman, Robert Satcher, Randy Bresnik

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 16, 2009 (STS-129) on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station.  Her crew consisted of Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore, Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, Mission Specialist (and current ISS resident) Randy Bresnik, Mission Specialist Michael Foreman and Mission Specialist Robert Satcher.

It was the second space shuttle mission that carried two African-American astronauts: Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher.

It was the 8th space shuttle mission to celebrate Thanksgiving in space.

Randy Bresnik's daughter was born the seventh day of the mission.  He received the news via private phone patch from mission control before the rest of the crew was awakened.  So he was able to give them the good news when they woke.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Hobaugh!

Charles Owen Hobaugh, born November 5, 1961 in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.  His first flight was on Atlantis (STS-104) in July 2001, when he served as pilot.

He served as pilot on Endeavour (STS-118) in August 2007.

In November 2009, he flew his third and final flight on Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009 as commander.