Happy birthday, cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev!

Sergei Krikalev, born August 27, 1958 in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia), is a veteran of six space flights.

His first trip into space was aboard Soyuz TM-7 as Flight Engineer to the space station Mir.  He participated in Mir EO-4, spending 151 days in space.

His second trip into space was aboard Soyuz TM-12 as flight engineer to Mir in May 1991.  He participated in expedition Mir EO-9. He returned to Earth on Soyuz TM-13 in March 1992.

His third flight was aboard Discovery (STS-60) as mission specialist in February 1994. He was the first cosmonaut aboard a Space Shuttle.

His fourth mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-88) as mission specialist in December 1998.  The mission took the Unity node to the ISS.

His fifth mission was aboard Soyuz TM-31 to the International Space Station in October 2000.  He participated in Expedition 1.  He returned to Earth on Discovery (STS-102) in March 2001.

His sixth and final flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-6 as Commander in April 2005 to the International Space Station. where he participated in Expedition 11.  He returned to Earth in October. 

He has spent 803 days, 9 hours and 39 minutes in space.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Anatoly Artsebarsky!

Anatoly Artsebarsky, born September 9, 1956 in the former Soviet Union, went into space aboard Soyuz TM-12 as commander in May 1991.  He was part of expedition Mir EO-9 with Sergei Krikalev and Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space.  He conducted six spacewalks while on Mir, lasting over 33 hours total. 

During the mission, the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev occurred which led to the end of the Soviet Union in December.  Artsebarsky returned to Earth in October 1991.