Atlantis (STS-71) launched 1995

STS-71 crew

Seated (L-R): Vladimir Dezhurov, Robert Gibson, Anatoly Solovyev

Standing (L-R): Norman Thagard, Gennady Strekalov, Gregory Harbaugh, Ellen Baker,Charles Precourt,Bonnie Dunbar, Nikolai Budarin

STS-71 mission patch

Atlantis (STS-71), launched June 27, 1995, was the first Space Shuttle to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Gibson, Pilot Charles Precourt, Ellen Baker, Gregory Harbaugh, and Bonnie Dunbar.  It delivered two cosmonauts, Anatoly Solovyev and Nikolai Budarin, to Mir to participate in Expedition EO-19, and return with members of EO-18. 

The mission included filming with an IMAX camera, the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment-II (SAREX-II), and to conduct biomedical investigations.  Some of these experiments covered cardiovascular and pulmonary functions, human metabolism, neuroscience, hygiene, sanitation, radiation, and behavioral performance.

Atlantis undocked from Mir on July 4, and returned to Earth with the original crew, Gennady Strekalov, Vladimir Dezhurov, and Norman Thagard.  The shuttle's crew spent almost 10 days in space.  

Challenger (STS-51-B) launched 1985

STS-51-B crew

First row (L-R): Robert Overmyer, Frederick Gregory

Back row (L-R): Don Lind, Taylor Wang, Norman Thagard, William Thornton, Lodewijk van den Berg

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Challenger, launched April 29, 1985, was the seventh flight of Challenger.  Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Overmyer, Pilot Frederick Gregory, Don Lind, Norman Thagard, William Thornton, Lodewijk van den Berg, and Taylor Wang.

It was the second flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab.  Two squirrel monkeys and 24 rats in special cages accompanied the astronauts in space.

They returned to Earth May 6.

Happy birthday, American cosmonaut Norman Thagard!

Norman Thagard, born July 3, 1943 in Marianna, Florida, is the first American to fly on a Russian spacecraft in March 1995, making him the first American cosmonaut.

His first trip into space was aboard Challenger (STS-7) as mission specialist in June 1983 with Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.

His second trip was aboard Challenger (STS-51-B) as mission specialist in April-May 1985.

His third trip into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-30) as mission specialist in May 1989.

Thagard's fourth mission was aboard Discovery (STS-42) as mission specialist in January 1992.

His fifth and last trip into space was aboard Soyuz TM-21 as a research cosmonaut to the Mir space station in March 1995.  He was part of the Mir EO-18 expedition and returned to Earth on Atlantis (STS-71) in July.

Discovery (STS-42) launched 1992

STS-42 crew (L-R): Stephen Oswald, Roberta Bondar, Norman Thagard, Ronald Grabe, David Hilmers, Ulf Merbold, William Readdy

STS-42 mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-42), launched January 22, 1992, carried seven astronauts into space to study the effects of microgravity on different organisms.  Its crew consisted  of Commander Ronald Grabe, Pilot Stephen Oswald, Norman Thagard, William Readdy, David Hilmers, Roberta Bondar (CSA) and Ulf Merbold (ESA).

Merbold, Germany's first astronaut, made his second flight on STS-42.  Roberta Bondar was Canada's first female astronaut and this was her only space flight.

They landed January 30.

Challenger (STS-7) launched with first American female astronaut 1983

STS-7 crew (L-R):  Sally Ride, John Fabian, Robert Crippen, Norman Thagard, Fred Hauck

Mission patch

Challenger (STS-7) launched on June 18, 1983 carrying the first American first female astronaut, Sally Ride, into space.  The rest of the crew consisted of Commander Robert Crippen (only non-rookie on board), Pilot Fred Hauck, John Fabian and Norman Thagard. 

During the mission, the crew deployed several satellites and conducted a variety of experiments. 

They returned to Earth June 24 at Edwards Air Force base.

Atlantis (STS-30) launched 1989

STS-30 crew (L-R): Ronald Grabe, David Walker, Norman Thagard, Mary Cleave, Mark Lee

Mission patch

Space shuttle Atlantis (STS-30), launched May 4, 1989, deployed the Magellan space probe to Venus.  Atlantis' crew consisted of Commander David Walker, Pilot Ronald Grabe, Mark Lee, Norman Thagard and Mary Cleave.

The Magellan probe was deployed only 6 hours and 14 minutes after takeoff.  The crew returned home May 8.

Soyuz TM-21 launched 1995

From left to right: Norman Thagard, Vladimir Dezhurov, Gennady Strekalov

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-21, launched March 14, 1995, carried the first American on a Soyuz spacecraft and to board Mir.  The crew consisted of Vladimir Dezhurov, Flight Engineer Gennady Strekalov and Research cosmonaut Norman Thagard.  They would be expedition Mir EO-18.

It was the first time ever that thirteen humans had been in space simultaneously: 3 aboard Soyuz, 3 aboard Mir and 7 aboard Endeavour (STS-67)

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vladimir Dezhurov!

Veteran cosmonaut/astronaut Vladimir Dezhurov, born July 30, 1962, in the former Soviet Union, has traveled on Soyuz and the Space Shuttle to Mir and the International Space Station.  He has logged 9 EVAs at just over 37 hours total.  Not bad for only 2 trips to space!

His first mission was aboard Soyuz TM-21, launched in March 1995 to Mir.  This mission saw the first American, Norman Thagard, to ride on a Soyuz spacecraft.  Dezhurov returned to Earth in July 1995 on the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-71).

He flew to the ISS in August 2001 aboard the Discovery (STS-105) and returned in December aboard the Endeavour (STS-108).