Atlantis (STS-122) launched 2008

STS-122 crew

Front row (L-R): Stephen Frick, Leopold Eyharts, Alan Poindexter

Back row (L-R): Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Stanely Love, Hans Schlegel

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-122), launched February 7, 2008, delivered the ESA's Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Stephen Frick, Pilot Alan Poindexter, Leland Melvin, Rex Walheim, Hans Schlegel (ESA), Stanley Love and Leopold Eyharts (ESA).

Walheim and Love conducted 3 EVAs during the mission, totaling 22 hours, 8 minutes.  Eyharts remained on the ISS and Daniel Tani returned with the rest of the crew February 20.

Celebrating Black History Month (and birthday) - Leland Melvin, Space Shuttle astronaut

Leland Melvin, born February 15, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia, is an African-American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle flights.  He graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Chemistry! 

He was recruited by the Detroit Lions in the 11th round of the 1986 NFL Draft as a wide receiver but pulled a hamstring during training and was released.

Melvin was selected as an astronaut in 1998 and flew on his first mission in February 2008 on Atlantis (STS-122) as mission specialist to the International Space Station.

His second was aboard Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009 as mission specialist to the ISS.

He retired from NASA in February 2014.

Atlantis (STS-129) launched 2009

Front row (L-R): Charles Hobaugh, Barry Wilmore

Back row (L-R): Leland Melvin, Michael Foreman, Robert Satcher, Randy Bresnik

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 16, 2009 (STS-129) on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station.  Her crew consisted of Commander Charles Hobaugh, Pilot Barry Wilmore, Mission Specialist Leland Melvin, Mission Specialist (and current ISS resident) Randy Bresnik, Mission Specialist Michael Foreman and Mission Specialist Robert Satcher.

It was the second space shuttle mission that carried two African-American astronauts: Leland Melvin and Robert Satcher.

It was the 8th space shuttle mission to celebrate Thanksgiving in space.

Randy Bresnik's daughter was born the seventh day of the mission.  He received the news via private phone patch from mission control before the rest of the crew was awakened.  So he was able to give them the good news when they woke.