Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Ed Lu!

Edward "Ed" Lu, born July 1, 1963 in Springfield, Massachusetts, is a veteran of three space flights.

His first mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-84) as mission specialist to Mir in May 1997.  While aboard, a fire broke out, but caused little damage. 

His second mission was again aboard Atlantis (STS-106) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in September 2000. During the mission he conducted an EVA with fellow astronaut Yuri Malenchenko for 6 hours, 14 minutes.

His third and final flight was aboard Soyuz TM-2 as flight engineer to the ISS in April 2003. He participated in Expedition 7 and returned to Earth in October after almost 185 days in space.

Soyuz TMA-2 launched 2003

Soyuz TMA-2 crew: Yuri Malenchenko, Edward Lu

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-2, launched April 26, 2003 carried two members of Expedition 7 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Yuri Malenchenko (Roscosmos) and Edward Lu (NASA).  They remained on board the ISS until October 2003 with ESA astronaut Pedro Duque.

Atlantis (STS-106) launched 2000

STS-106 crew

Front row (L-R): Scott Altman, Terrence Wilcutt

Back row (L-R): Borus Morukov, Richard Mastracchio, Edward Lu, Daniel Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko

STS-106 Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-106), launched September 8, 2000, carried seven astronauts to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Terrence Wilcutt, Pilot Scott Altman, Edward Lu, Richard Mastracchio, Daniel Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko and Borus Morukov.

Lu and Malenchenko conducted an EVA lasting 6 hours 14 minutes.

The crew returned to Earth September 20.

Atlantis (STS-84) launched to Mir 1997

STS-84 crew:

Front Row (L-R): Jerry Linenger, Charles Precourt, Michael Foale; 

Back Row (L-R): Jean-Francois Clervoy, Eileen Collins, Ed Lu, Yelena Kondakova, Carlos Noriega

Mission patch

Atlantis (STS-84), launched May 17, 1997, was the sixth shuttle mission to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Charles Precourt, Pilot Eileen Collins, Jean-Francois Clervoy, Carlos Noriega, Ed Lu, Yelena Kondakova and Michael Foale.

Michael Foale stayed aboard as part of Expedition Mir EO-23, and Jerry Linenger returned with the STS-84 crew on May 24.