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.  

Happy birthday, astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson!

Robert "Hoot" Gibson, born October 30, 1946 in Cooperstown, New York, is a veteran of five space shuttle missions.

His first mission was as pilot on Challenger (STS-41-B) in February 1984.  It was the first flight to involve an untethered spacewalk.  He spent almost 8 days in space and completed 128 orbits.

His second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-61-C) as commander in January 1986, the last shuttle mission before the Challenger disaster. He spent over 6 days in space and completed 98 orbits.

Gibson's third mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-27) as commander in December 1988.  It was a classified payload for the US Department of Defense. He spent over four days in space and completed 68 orbits.

His fourth flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-47) as commander in September 1992.  He carried the first Japanese astronaut, Mamoru Mohri, and the first African-American woman, Mae Jemison into space.  He spent almost 8 days in space and completed 126 orbits.

His fifth and final mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-71) in June-July 1995 to the Russian space station Mir.  It was the first space shuttle docking with Mir.  He spent almost 10 days in space and completed 153 orbits. 

He married fellow astronaut Rhea Seddon in May 1981.  He retired from NASA in November 1996 and became a pilot for Southwest Airlines.  

Columbia (STS-61-C) launched 1986

STS-61-C crew

Front row (L-R): Robert Cenker, Charles Bolden, Robert Gibson, Franklin Chang Diaz

Back row (L-R): Bill Nelson, Steven Hawley, George Nelson

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-61-C), launched January 12, 1986, was the last space shuttle flight before the Challenger disaster. Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Gibson, Pilot Charles Bolden, George Nelson, Steven Hawley, Franklin Chang-Diaz, William Nelson and Robert Cenker.

It was the first flight for Franklin Chang Diaz, the first Latin-American immigrant to go into space.  It was the second mission to have an African-American pilot - Charles Bolden.  Bolden would go onto become NASA Administrator.  It was the second mission to have a sitting politician on board - Bill Nelson (D-Florida).  It was Robert Cenker's only space flight. It might be the first time two astronauts with the same last name were on board.

They returned to Earth January 18.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Rhea Seddon!

Margaret Rhea Seddon, born November 8, 1947 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is one of the first group of astronauts to include women and is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.  She has a doctorate of medicine from the University of Tennessee and has served in hospitals in Mississippi and Tennessee. 

Selected as an astronaut in 1978, her first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-51-D) in April 1985 as mission specialist.  She logged 168 hours in space.

Her second mission was aboard Columbia (STS-40) in June 1991 as mission specialist. This flight was dedicated to life sciences with experiments involving cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary, renal/endocrine, blood, musculoskeletal, neurovestibular and immune systems.

Her third and final mission was aboard Columbia (STS-58) in October-November 1993 as Payload Commander on another life science research mission, continuing many of the experiments began on STS-40.

She is married to former astronaut Robert Gibson.

Columbia (STS-58) launched 1993

Seated (L-R): David Wolf, Shannon Lucid, Rhea Seddon, Richard Searfoss; 

Standing (L-R): John Blaha, William McArthur, Martin Fettman

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-58), launched October 18, 1993, used for the first time the Portable In-Flight Landing Operations Trainer (PILOT) simulation software.  Its crew consisted of Commander John Blaha, Pilot Richard Searfoss, Rhea Seddon, William McArthur, David Wolf, Shannon Lucid and Martin Fettman.

PILOT was tested to be used as a tool to help the mission commander and shuttle pilot maintain proficiency for approach and landing. 

During the mission, Rhea Seddon sent a message to her husband astronaut Robert Gibson when she surpassed his total time of almost 633 hours.  Gibson teased that he had more launches than she did at the time.

Endeavour (STS-47) launched 1992

STS-47 crew

Front row (L-R): Jay Apt, Curtis Brown; 

Back row (L-R): Jan Davis, Mark Lee, Robert Gibson, Mae Jemison,  Mamoru Mohri

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-47), launched September 12, 1992, was the  fiftieth mission of NASA's shuttle program and the second flight for Endeavour.  Its crew consisted of Commander Robert L. Gibson, Pilot Curtis Brown, Mark Lee, Jay Apt, Jan Davis, Mae Jemison and Mamoru Mohri (JAXA).

It was the first flight for an African-American female, Mae C. Jemison.  It was the first time a married couple went into space, Mark Lee and Jan Davis.  NASA has a rule prohibiting married couples from serving on the same mission, but Lee and Davis got married in a secret ceremony a few weeks prior.  By the time NASA found out, it was too late to do anything.

Mamoru Mohri became the first Japanese astronaut to fly on a shuttle mission, representing JAXA, as a payload specialist.

Atlantis (STS-27) launched 1988

Back row, L-R: William Shepherd, Richard Mullane. Front row, L-R: Guy Gardner, Robert Gibson, Jerry Ross.

Mission Patch

Atlantis (STS-27), the second Space Shuttle flight after the Challenger disaster, launched December 2, 1988.  It was a mission for the Department of Defense, so its payload and purpose were classified.  Her crew consisted of Commander Robert Gibson, Pilot Guy Gardner (not the Green Lantern), Mission Specialist 1 Richard Mullane, Mission Specialist 2 Jerry Ross and Mission Specialist 3 William Shepherd.

During the ascent the Thermal Protection System tiles were damaged by ablative insulating material from the right SRB.  The crew reported they saw white material on the windshield at various times during ascent.  They tried to examine the starboard side of Atlantis with the Canadarm but could not determine the full extent of the damage.  Due to the sensitive nature of the mission, the crew could not send hi-res photos to the ground to assess the damage.  The poor resolution pics weren't enough to tell what had happened, either.  NASA told the crew that the damage didn't look any worse than previous shuttle incidents.  Small comfort for the crew.

It has been reported that Commander Gibson thought the crew would perish upon re-entry, but miraculously, Atlantis landed safely December 6, despite being one of the most damaged shuttles to return.

Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-41-B) launched 1984, first untethered space walk

L-R Seated: Commander Vance B. Brand; Pilot Robert L. Gibson.  

L-R Standing: Mission Specialist Robert L. Stewart, Ronald McNair,, Bruce McCandless II.

The tenth Space Shuttle mission, STS-41-B, blasted off February 3, 1984 on the Challenger. IIt  was the first space flight for Ronald McNair.  Both McCandless and Stewart performed the first untethered EVAs on the fourth day.  They are pictured above in the Manual Maneuvering Units.

Unfortunately, Challenger and McNair met their end on January 28, 1986