Discovery (STS-51) launched 1993

STS-51 crew (L-R): Frank Culbertson, Daniel Bursch, Carl Walz, William Readdy, James Newman

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-51), launched September 12, 1993, featured a spacewalk to evaluate tools and techniques for servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, which was to be performed later in the year.  Her crew consisted of Commander Frank Culbertson, Pilot William Readdy, Mission Specialist James Newman, Mission Specialist Daniel Bursch, and Mission Specialist Carl Walz. 

After liftoff, a communications loss between the crew and Mission Control last about 45 minutes, delaying the deployment of the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS).  Once communications were re-established, the ACTS was deployed successfully.

On September 16, Newman and Walz performed an EVA to evaluate plans to repair the Hubble Space Telescope, and concluded that preparations were sound.

The crew returned to Earth September 22, 1993 after completing 157 orbits.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Frank Culbertson!

Frank Culbertson, born May 15, 1949 in Charleston, South Carolina, has been in space three times, and is the only American not on Earth during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

His first flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-38) as pilot in November 1990.  The mission carried a classified payload for the Department of Defense.

His second flight was aboard Discovery (STS-51) as commander in September 1993.  The astronauts were filmed by a camera crew from the United Kingdom and the documentary was released as Space Shuttle Discovery.

His third and final flight was aboard Discovery (STS-105), launched in August 2001 as mission specialist to the International Space Station.  He was commander of the ISS during Expedition 3.  He conducted one space walk with fellow astronaut Vladimir Dezhurov for just over 5 hours.  He returned to Earth on Endeavour (STS-108) in December 2001.

Discovery (STS-105) launched 2001

STS-105 crew

Center (L-R) Fredeirck Sturckow, Patrick Forrester, Daniel Barry, Scott Horowitz

Top Left (L-R): James Voss, Yury Usachev, Susan Helms

Top Right (L-R): Mikhail Tyurin, Frank Culbertson, Vladimir Dezhurov

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-105), launched August 10, 2001, carried the third crew to the International Space Station and brought the second crew back home.  Its crew consisted of Commander Scott Horowitz, Pilot Frederick Sturckow, Patrick Forrester and Daniel Barry.  The members of Expedition 3 were Frank Culbertson, Mikhail Tyurin and Vladimir Dezhurov.

Barry and Forrester conducted 2 EVAs lasting a total of 11 hours and 45 minutes. Discovery returned to Earth August 22 with the crew of Expedition 2: Yury Usachev, James Voss and Susan Helms.

During the mission they woke up to Sting's Brand New Day!

Endeavour (STS-108) launched 2001

L-R: Mark Kelly, Linda Godwin, Daniel Tani, Dominic Pudwill Gorie

Mission Patch

Endeavour (STS-108) launched December 5, 2001, was the first mission after the 9/11 attacks and the crew honored the victims during the flight.  Endeavour's crew was Commander Dominic Pudwill Gorie, Pilot Mark E. Kelly, Mission Specialist Linda Godwin and Mission Specialist Daniel Tani.

She carried the crew of Expedition 4 to the International Space Station: Yuri Onufrienko, Carl Walz and Daniel Bursch.  On her return, she brought back the crew of Expedition 3: Frank Culbertson, Mikhail Turin, and Vladimir Dezhurov.

An American flag that was recovered the morning of Sept 12, 2001 from the site of the World Trade Center wreckage, a USMC flag recovered from the Pentagon and an American flag flown over the State Capital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania flew on the Endeavour that mission.

Also, 23 badges of fallen NYPD officers and 6000 small American flags to honor those lost flew on the Space shuttle.  The 6000 flags were given to families who lost loved ones on 9/11.

During the mission Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani performed an EVA which lasted a little over 4 hours.  Endeavour landed on December 17.

Atlantis (STS-38) launched 1990

Seated (L-R): Frank Culbertson, Jr., Richard Covey

Standing (L-R): Charles Gemar, Robert Springer, Carl Meade 

Mission STS-38 patch

Atlantis blasted off on its 7th flight (STS-38) and 7th mission dedicated to the Department of Defense, November 15, 1990 for a four-day trip into space.  The crew consisted of Commander Richard Covey, Pilot Frank Culbertson, Mission Specialist Carl Meade, Mission Specialist Robert Springer, and Mission Specialist Charles Gemar.

Since this was a DoD mission, Atlantis' payload was classified.   She landed November 20, her returned a day later than planned because of unacceptable wind conditions at Edwards AFB so she landed at Kennedy Space Center.