Endeavour (STS-127) launched 2009

STS-127 crew (L-R): David Wolf, Chris Cassidy, Doug Hurley, Julie Payette, Mark Polansky, Thomas Marshburn, Timothy Kopra

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-127), launched July 15, 2009, delivered the final components of the Japanese Experiment Module to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley, Chris Cassidy, Julie Payette (CSA), Thomas Marshburn, David Wolf, and Timothy Kopra.

It was the first time two Candians were in space at the same time: Payette and Robert Thirsk.  Wolf, Kopra, Marshburn, and Cassidy performed 5 EVAs during the mission.

Kopra stayed on board the ISS and Koichi Wakata returned with the rest of the crew on July 31.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Mark Polansky!

Mark Polansky, born June 2, 1958 in Paterson, New Jersey, is a veteran of three space shuttle missions.

His first mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-98) as pilot to the International Space Station in February 2001.  The crew delivered the Destiny Laboratory Module, the first NASA lab to be permanently used since Skylab.

His second mission was aboard Discovery (STS-116) as commander to the ISS in December 2006.  His wake up song was Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.

His third and final trip was aboard Endeavour (STS-127) as commander to the ISS in July 2009.  He must really love Here Comes the Sun.

Atlantis (STS-98) launched 2001

STS-98 crew (L-R): Robert Curbeam, Mark Polansky, Marsha Ivins, Kenneth Cockrell and Thomas Jones

STS-98 Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-98), launched February 7, 2001, was the first flight of the twenty-first century.  Its crew consisted of Commander Kenneth Cockrell, Pilot Mark Polansky, Robert Curbeam, Marsha Ivins and Thomas Jones.  The mission delivered the Destiny Laboratory Module to the International Space Station and was installed during three EVAs by Tom Jones and Robert Curbeam. 

They returned to Earth February 20.

Discovery (STS-116) launched 2006

Back row (L-R): Robert Curbeam, Nicholas Patrick, Sunita Williams, Christer Fuglesang

Front (L-R): William Oefelein, Joan Higginbotham, Mark Polansky

Mission patch

Discovery (STS-116), launched December 9, 2006 to the International Space Station, had 5 rookie astronauts, the only flight for Joan Higginbotham and the first flight for Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang.  The crew consisted of Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialist 1 Nicholas Patrick, Mission Specialist 2 Robert Curbeam, Mission Specialist 3 Fuglesang, Mission Specialist 4 Higginbotham and Mission Specialist 5 Sunita Williams.

Discovery's crew performed 4 EVAs over the 14-day mission.  They returned to Earth December 22.  Their wake-up call that morning was Perry Como's Home for the Holidays.