SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour launched 2020

Endeavour crew (L-R): Douglas Hurley, Robert Behnken

SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 (Endeavour), launched May 30, 2020, was the first crewed orbital spaceflight launched from the US since the end of the Space Shuttle project in 2011.  Its crew consisted of Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, both veterans of the space shuttle program.  Nineteen hours after launch, Endeavour docked with the International Space Station. 

Behnken and Hurley worked with Expedition 63, and Behnken conducted four EVAs with fellow astronaut Chris Cassidy.  After sixty-two days, Endeavour undocked from the ISS and splashed down thirteen hours later.  It was the first water landing by astronauts since 1975. 

Happy birthday, astronaut Nicholas Patrick!

Nicholas Patrick, born November 19, 1964 in Yorkshire, England, has spent almost a month in space.

His first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-116) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in December 2006. He spent almost 13 days in space, 7 of those docked at the space station.  

His second and final mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the ISS in February 2010.  He conducted 3 EVAs with fellow astronaut Robert Behnken for a total of more than 18 hours.  He spent almost 14 days in space and completed 217 orbits.

Happy birthday, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur!

Megan McArthur, born August 30, 1971 in Honolulu, Hawaii, went into space on Atlantis (STS-125) as mission specialist to service the Hubble Space Telescope in May 2009.  It was the last mission to the Hubble. 

She is scheduled to be a member of SpaceX Crew-2 which will launch sometime next year.

She is married to fellow astronaut Robert Behnken.

Endeavour (STS-123) launched 2008

STS-123 crew:

Front row (L-R): Gregory H. Johnson, Dominic Gorie

Back row (L-R): Richard Linnehan, Robert Behnken, Garrett Reisman, Michael Foreman, Takao Doi

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-123), launched March 11, 2008, delivered the first module of the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo).  Its crew consisted of Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson, Robert Behnken, Michael Foreman, Richard Linnehan, Takao Doi (JAXA), and Garrett Reisman.

Five spacewalks were conducted during the mission, by Linnehan, Reisman, Foreman and Behnken. 

The crew returned to Earth March 27., the longest space shuttle flight.  Reisman stayed on board the ISS, and astronaut Leopold Eyharts (ESA) returned with the rest of the crew.

Endeavour (STS-130) launched 2010

STS-130 mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-130), launched February 8, 2010, was the 10th flight of Endeavour to the International Space Station. Its crew consisted of Commander George Zamka, Pilot Terry Virts, Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken.

Patrick and Behnken performed 3 EVAs during the mission for a total of 18 1/2 hours.

They returned to Earth on February 22.

Space Shuttle Endeavor, final piece of the ISS, launched 2010

February 8, 2010, Endeavor launched successfully with six crew members to deliver the last pieces of the International Space Station.  Under the command of George D. Zamka and pilot Terry Virts (Maryland native!), Endeavor rendezvoused with the ISS on the second day.  The Cupola was one of the main cargo items, a robotic control station with six windows on its sides and another in the middle, which gives a 360° view of the station.

Mission specialists Nicholas Patrick and Robert Behnken performed 3 EVA's during the flight.  Endeavor landed February 15 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.