Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut David Hilmers!

David Hilmers, born January 28, 1950 in Clinton, Iowa, is a veteran of four space flights.  He has a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Baylor College of Medicine.

Hilmers' first flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-51-J) as mission specialist in October 1985.  This was a Dept of Defense payload so everything was hush-hush.

His second flight was aboard Discovery (STS-26) as mission specialist in September-October 1988.  This was the "Return to Flight" mission, the first mission after the Challenger disaster in January 1986.

His third flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-36) as mission specialist in February-March 1990 on another Department of Defense mission.

His fourth and final flight was aboard Discovery (STS-42) as mission specialist in January 1992.  The crew carried the International Microgravity Laboaratory-1 into orbit.

Atlantis (STS-51-J) first launched 1985

STS-51-J crew (L-R): Robert Stewart, David Hilmers, Karol Bobko, William Pailes, Ronald Grabe

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on her maiden voyage October 3, 1985.  Its crew consisted of Commander Karol Bobko, Pilot Ronald Grabe, David Hilmers, Robert Stewart, and William Pailes.  The four-day mission carried a payload for the Department of Defense.

The crew returned to Earth October 7.

Discovery (STS-26) "Return to Flight" launched 1988

STS-26 crew

Front row (L-R): Richard Covey, Frederick Hauck

Back row (L-R): John Lounge, David Hilmers, George Nelson

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-26), launched September 29, 1988, was the "Return to Flight" mission, the first since the Challenger disaster in January 1986.  Its crew consisted of Commander Frederick Hauck, Pilot Richard Covey, John Lounge, David Hilmers and George Nelson.

It was the first space shuttle to be equipped with a Voice Control Unit, which was a computer capable of recognizing and responding to human speech.

They returned to Earth October 3.

Discovery (STS-42) launched 1992

STS-42 crew (L-R): Stephen Oswald, Roberta Bondar, Norman Thagard, Ronald Grabe, David Hilmers, Ulf Merbold, William Readdy

STS-42 mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-42), launched January 22, 1992, carried seven astronauts into space to study the effects of microgravity on different organisms.  Its crew consisted  of Commander Ronald Grabe, Pilot Stephen Oswald, Norman Thagard, William Readdy, David Hilmers, Roberta Bondar (CSA) and Ulf Merbold (ESA).

Merbold, Germany's first astronaut, made his second flight on STS-42.  Roberta Bondar was Canada's first female astronaut and this was her only space flight.

They landed January 30.

Atlantis (STS-36) launched 1990

 

Left to right: Pierre Thuot, John Casper, John Creighton, Richard Mullane, David Hilmers

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis, launched February 28, 1990, was the sixth flight for Atlantis and carried a classified payload for the U.S. Department of Defense.  Its crew consisted of Commander John Creighton, Pilot John Casper, mission specialists Pierre Thuot, David Hilmers and Richard Mullane.

It has been theorized that the crew deployed a reconnaissance satellite "Misty" for the DoD, but that is still classified.

Atlantis returned to Earth March 4.