Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Tracy Dyson!

Tracy Caldwell Dyson, born August 14, 1969 in Arcadia, California, is a veteran of two missions into space.  She studied atmospheric chemistry at the University of California, Irvine.

Her first mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-118) as mission specialist in August 2007 to the International Space Station.  She celebrated her 38th birthday during the flight.

Her second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-18 as flight engineer in April 2010. She participated in Expeditions 23 and 24.  She returned to Earth in September 2010.

Soyuz TMA-19 launched 2010

Soyuz TMA-19 crew (L-R): Douglas Wheelock, Shannon Walker, Fyodor Yurchikhin

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-19, launched June 16, 2010 (America time), carried members of Expedition 24 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin (Roscosmos), Shannon Walker and Douglas Wheelock.  The spacecraft remained docked to the ISS for Expeditions 24 and 25.  The crew returned to Earth November 2010.

Happy birthday, astronaut Shannon Walker!

Shannon Walker, born June 4, 1965 in Houston, Texas, went into space aboard Soyuz TMA-19 to the International Space Station in June 2010.  She participated in Expeditions 24 and 25 before returning to Earth in November after more than 163 days in space.

She is scheduled to return to the ISS in August of this year aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft USCV-1.

Happy birthday, astronaut Douglas Wheelock!

Douglas Wheelock, born May 5, 1960 in Binghamton, New York, has been in space twice.

His first trip was aboard Discovery (STS-120) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in October-November 2007.  During the mission, he conducted three EVAs with fellow astronaut Scott Parazynski.  They returned to Earth after about 15 days.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-19 as flight engineer in June 2010 to the International Space Station.  He participated in Expeditions 24 and 25.  He remained in space about 150 days.

In June 2004, he participated in expedition NEEMO 6 in NASA's Aquarius Underwater Laboratory. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin!

Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, born January 3, 1959 in the former Soviet Union, has been in space five times. 

His first trip into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-112) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in October 2002.

His second missoin was aboard Soyuz TMA-10 to the ISS as part of Expedition 15.  During the expedition, he conducted 3 EVAs.

His third trip was aboard Soyuz TMA-19 as commander to the ISS in June 2010. He participated in Expeditions 24 and 25 and conducted 2 EVAs during the stay.

His fourth trip was as commander of Soyuz TMA-09M to the ISS in May 2013, as part of Expeditions 36 and 37.  He conducted two more EVAs during the mission.

His fifth and final trip was as commander of Soyuz MS-04 to the ISS in April 2017, as part of Expeditions 51 and 52, when he conducted his ninth and final EVA.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka!

Oleg Skripochka, born December 24, 1969 in the former Soviet Union, has flown to space twice and has spent almost a year in space. 

His first mission was aboard  Soyuz TMA-01M, launched in October 2010 to the International Space Station.  He was part of the crews of Expeditions 24 and 25, and  performed 3 EVAs during his stay.  He returned to Earth in May 2011.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-20M, launched in May 2016 to the ISS.  He was part of the crews of Expedition 47 and 48.