Happy birthday, astronaut Michael Barratt!

Michael Barratt, born April 16, 1959 in Vancouver, Washington, is a veteran of two space flights.

His first mission was aboard Soyuz TMA-14 in March 2009 to the International Space Station.  He participated in Expeditions 19 and 20.  He and fellow astronaut Gennady Padalka performed two EVAs during the mission.  Barratt returned to Earth October 2009.

His second and final mission was aboard Discovery's final mission (STS-133) as mission specialist in February-March 2011 to the ISS.  Barratt operated the Canadarm2 during the mission.

In October 2004, Barratt participated in the Aquarius underwater laboratory during the NEEMO 7 mission.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Gennady Padalka!

Gennady Padalka, born June 21, 1958, holds the current record for the longest time spent in space, 879 days.  That's time spent on both Mir and the International Space Station.  He attained the rank of colonel in the Russian Air Force.

His first flight into space was aboard Soyuz TM-28 in August 1998 as commander as part of Mir expedition EO-26. He returned to Earth in February 1999.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-4 in April 2004 as commander to the ISS as part of Expedition 9.

His third flight was on Soyuz TMA-14 in March 2009 as commander of Expeditions 19 and 20 on the ISS.  During the mission, he logged almost 16 hours of EVA time.

His fourth flight was on Soyuz TMA-04M in May 2012 as flight engineer for Expedition 31 and then commander of Expedition 32.

His fifth and final flight was about Soyuz TMA-16M in March 2015 as commander for Expeditions 43 and 44.

Soyuz TMA-14 launched 2009

From left to right: Charles Simonyi, Gennadi Padalka, Michael Barratt

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-14, launched March 26, 2009, carried two members of Expedition 19 to the International Space Station.  Its crew was Gennady Padalka (Roscosmos) and Michael Barratt (NASA).  Also on board was a space tourist Charles Simonyi, who was traveling on his second self-funded flight to the space station.

Padalka and Barratt stayed on the ISS throughout Expeditions 19 and 20 and returned to Earth, October 11, 2009.  Another space tourist, Guy Laliberte from Canada, returned with them. 

Roscosmos and nations' space program invited children from ages 6-15 to design and submit a patch for Soyuz TMA-14.  The winner was Anna Chibiskova from Moscow.  Her artwork was incorporated into the patch.