Happy birthday, astronaut Bob Behnken!

Robert Louis Behnken, born July 28, 1970 in St. Ann, Missouri, has been to space three times.  He earned a BS in mechanical engineering and phusics from Washington University in St. Louis.  Then he earned an MS and PhD in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology.

He entered the Air Force and after graduating he flew the F-15 and F-16.

His first trip into space aboard Endeavour (STS-123) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2008. He spent almost 16 days in space.

Behnken's second trip was also aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the ISS in February 2010. He spent almost 14 days in space.

His third and final trip was aboard Crew Dragon Endeavour Demo-2 as Joint operations commander to the ISS in May 2020. He remained on the space station as part of Expedition 63 before returning to Earth in August 2020. He spent 63 days in space. 

Who is Bob Behnken? 

SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour launched 2020

Endeavour crew (L-R): Douglas Hurley, Robert Behnken

SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 (Endeavour), launched May 30, 2020, was the first crewed orbital spaceflight launched from the US since the end of the Space Shuttle project in 2011.  Its crew consisted of Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, both veterans of the space shuttle program.  Nineteen hours after launch, Endeavour docked with the International Space Station. 

Behnken and Hurley worked with Expedition 63, and Behnken conducted four EVAs with fellow astronaut Chris Cassidy.  After sixty-two days, Endeavour undocked from the ISS and splashed down thirteen hours later.  It was the first water landing by astronauts since 1975. 

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov!

Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, born August 23, 1983 in Russia, went into space aboard Soyuz MS-17 as flight engineer to the International Space Station in October 2020.  He participated in Expeditions 63 and 64, spending over 184 days in space.  He returned to Earth in April 2021.  

He is scheduled to return to space on Soyuz MS-28, but no date has been set yet.

Happy birthday, astronaut Chris Cassidy!

Christopher Cassidy, born January 4, 1970 in Salem, Massachusetts, has been in space three times. He was a Navy Seal for ten years before being selected as an astronaut by NASA in May 2004.  

His first trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-127) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in July 2009.  He conducted three EVAs with fellow astronauts David Wolf and Thomas Marshburn for a total of over 18 hours.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-08M to the International Space Station in March 2013.  He participated in Expeditions 35 and 36.  He stayed aboard for over 166 days before returning to Earth in September 2013.

His third flight was aboard Soyuz MS-16 to the International Space Station in April 2020.  He participated in Expeditions 62 and 63.  He stayed aboard for almost 196 days before returning to Earth in October 2020.

Happy birthday, astronaut Douglas Hurley!

Douglas Hurley, born October 21, 1966 in Endicott, New York, has been in space three times.  

His first flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-127) as pilot to the International Space Station in July 2009.  When they docked at the ISS, they set a record for the most humans in space at the same time, at thirteen.

His second flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-135) as pilot to the ISS in July 2011.  It was the final flight of the Space Shuttle program.

His latest flight was aboard SpaceX's Endeavour, the first crewed test flight of the Crew Dragon spacecraft, to the ISS in May 2020.  He and fellow astronaut Bob Behnken participated in Expedition 63.  They returned to Earth on August 2, 2020.

Soyuz MS-17 launched today!

Soyuz MS-17 crew (L-R): Kathleen Rubins, Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov

Soyuz MS-17, launched this morning, has carried three members of Expedition 63 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consists of Commander Sergey Ryzhikov, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, and Kathleen Rubins (NASA), who celebrates her birthday today!

They plan to return to Earth April 17, 2021.

SpaceX Crew Dragon returned to Earth today!

Crew Dragon (L-R): Robert Behnken, Doug Hurley

SpaceX's Crew Dragon, consisting of Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico today about 2:48PM EDT!  The last time NASA had a mission splashdown was in 1975 when Tom Stafford, Vance Brand and Deke Slayton returned from the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

Bob and Doug spent 62 days aboard the International Space Station participating in Expedition 63.  Behnken conducted four EVAs with fellow astronaut Chris Cassidy during the mission.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Ivan Vagner!

Ivan Vagner, born July 10, 1985 in the former Soviet Union, is currently aboard the International Space Station.  He launched aboard Soyuz MS-16 as a flight engineer.  He is participating in Expeditions 62 and 63.