Atlantis (STS-104) launched 2001

STS-104 crew.  Seated (L-R): Seated - Charles O. Hobaugh, Steven W. Lindsey; 

Standing (L-R) - Michael L. Gernhardt, Janet L. Kavandi, James F. Reilly

Mission patch

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-104), launched July 12, 2001, was a installation and repair mission to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Steven Lindsey, Pilot Charles Hobaugh, Michael Gernhardt, Janet Kavandi, and James Reilly.

The mission installed the Quest airlock, which is the primary entrance and egress for spacewalks.  Gernhardt and Reilly performed three EVAs lasting over 16 hours total. 

They returned to Earth July 22.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Mike Gernhardt!

Michael L. Gernhardt, born May 4, 1956 in Mansfield, Ohio, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights and three missions to NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory.

His first mission was as mission  specialist on Endeavour (STS-69) in September 1995, NASA's 100th successful manned spaceflight.

His second flight, also as mission specialist was on Columbia (STS-83) in April 1997, but the mission was cut short due to a problem with a fuel cell.

His third mission was STS-94 on Columbia in July 1997.  This was the "reflight" of STS-83, which was cut short.

His fourth flight was on Atlantis (STS-104) in July 2001 to the International Space Station. He conducted three  EVAs during the mission.

In April 2005, he commanded NEEMO 8, in NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory.  NEEMO stands for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations.  His second mission underwater was for NEEMO 15, when he piloted the DeepWorker submersible, a small submarine which is a "stand-in" for a Space Exploration Vehicle that may one day explore an asteroid.

Most recently, he piloted hte DeepWorker submersible during NEEMO 16, for which he was principal investigator.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Hobaugh!

Charles Owen Hobaugh, born November 5, 1961 in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.  His first flight was on Atlantis (STS-104) in July 2001, when he served as pilot.

He served as pilot on Endeavour (STS-118) in August 2007.

In November 2009, he flew his third and final flight on Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009 as commander.