Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Kevin Chilton!

Kevin Chilton, born November 3, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, has been in space three times.

His first trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-49) as pilot in May 1992.  It was the first time an EVA involved three astronauts.

His second trip was aboard Endeavour (STS-59) as pilot in April 1994.  The Discovery Channel chronicled the launch for a special on the Space Shuttle program.

His third and final trip was aboard Atlantis (STS-76) as commander in March 1996.  It was the third shuttle mission to dock with the space station Mir.

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.