Endeavour (STS-77) launched 1996

STS-77 crew

Front row (L-R): Curtis Brown, John Casper

Back row (L-R): Daniel Bursch, Mario Runco, Marc Garneau, Andrew Thomas

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-77), launched May 19, 1996, carried a Coca-Cola fountain dispenser into space as part of opening the commercial space frontier.  Its crew consisted of Commander John Casper, Pilot Curtis Brown, Andrew Thomas, Daniel Bursch, Mario Runco, and Marc Garneau (CSA).

The Coca-Cola dispenser was developed for use on the Endeavour to see if carbonated beverages can be produced in microgravity, which causes bubble nucleation resulting in foam formation.

They returned to Earth May 29.

Challenger (STS-51-F) launched 1985

Front row (seated) L–R: Gordon Fullerton, Roy Bridges, 

Back row (standing) L–R: Anthony England, Karl Henize, F. Story Musgrave, Loren Acton, John-David Bartoe

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-F), launched July 29, 1985, was the only shuttle mission that had to "Abort To Orbit" (ATO).  Shortly after liftoff, a number of sensor failings caused the main engine to shut down and the crew had to abort to orbit.  They achieved orbit at a lower altitude and managed to complete their mission successfully.

Its crew consisted of Commander Gordon Fullerton, Pilot Roy Bridges, Karl Henize, F. Story Musgrave, Anthony England, Loren Acton and John-David Bartoe.  Challenger's primary payload was the lab module Spacelab 2, which involved multiple experiments related to life sciences and physics.

Coca-Cola and Pepsi provided carbonated drinks for the mission in specially-designed cans, but the crew preferred Tang, since it could be mixed with chilled water available on the shuttle.  The carbonated beverages weren't refrigerated and foamed excessively in microgravity.

They returned to Earth August 6.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut John Casper!

John Casper, born July 9, 1943 in Greenville, South Carolina, is a veteran of 4 space shuttle flights.  After getting a Maser of Science degree in Astronautics from Purdue University in 1967, he attended U.S. Air Force to become a fighter pilot. He flew 229 combat missions in the Vietnam War. 

He served as pilot on his first space flight on Atlantis (STS-36) February-March 1990.  It was a Department of Defense flight so its payload was confidential.

His second flight was as commander on Endeavour (STS-54) January 1993, during which the fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite was deployed.

Casper was assigned as commander aboard Columbia (STS-62) in March 1994.  The landing of the mission was chronicled by the Discovery Channel for a special featuring the Space Shuttle program.

His fourth and final mission was as commander aboard Endeavour (STS-77) in May 1996.  A Coca-Cola fountain dispense with Coca-Cola and Diet Coke was taken aboard.