Columbia (STS-40) launched 1991

STS-40 crew 

Front row (L-R):  Drew Gaffney, Millie Hughes-Fulford, Rhea Seddon, James Bagian; 

Back row (L-R): Bryan O'Connor, Tamara Jernigan, Sidney Gutierrez

Mission insignia

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-40), launched June 5, 1991, was the first mission dedicated entirely to biology.  Its crew consisted of Commander Bryan O'Connor, Pilot Sidney Gutierrez, James Bagian, Tamara Jernigan, Rhea Seddon, Drew Gaffney and Millie Hughes-Fulford.  It was also the first mission to carry three female astronauts.

They carried out experiments on themselves, 30 rodents and thousands of tiny jellyfish.

Columbia returned to Earth June 14.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Millie Hughes-Fulford!

Millie Hughes-Fulford, born December 21, 1945 in Mineral Wells, Texas, went into space aboard Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-40) in June 1991 as Payload Specialist.  The mission was the fifth Spacelab mission, the first dedicated to biology and the first time three women were on board.