Happy birthday, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean!

Steve MacLean, born December 14, 1954 in Ottawa, Canada, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights. 

His first flight was aboard Columbia (STS-52) as payload specialist for the Canadian Space Agency in October-November 1992.  

His second and final flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-115) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in September 2006.  He was the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm2.  He was the second Canadian to perform a space walk.  Chris Hadfield was the first. 

Atlantis (STS-115) launched 2006

STS-115 crew (L-R): Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Christopher Ferguson, Joseph Tanner, Daniel Burbank, Brent Jett, Steve MacLean

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-115), launched September 9, 2006, was the first assembly mission to the International Space Station following the Challenger disaster in 2003.  Its crew consisted of Commander Brent Jett, Pilot Christopher Ferguson, Steven MacLean (CSA), Daniel Burbank, Joseph Tanner, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper.

Burbank and MacLean conducted 3 EVAs to install trusses and new solar arrays on the ISS.

They returned to Earth September 21.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper!

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, born February 7, 1963 in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights.  She obtained the rank of Captain in the US Navy.

Her first mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-115) as mission specialist in September 2006.  She conducted two EVAs during the mission for a total of 12 hours and 8 minutes.

She then commanded the 12th expedition to NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO 12) in the Aquarius underwater laboratory in May 2007.

Her second and final flight was as mission specialist on Endeavour (STS-126) in November 2008.  She participated in three of four EVAs during the flight, which brought her total time in EVA to 33 hours and 42 minutes. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Brent Jett!

Brent Jett, born October 5, 1958 in Pontiac, Michigan, is a veteran of four space shuttle missions.  He became a Naval aviator, and was deployed overseas aboard the USS Saratoga to the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Jett's first mission into space aboard Endeavour (STS-72) in January 1996 as pilot.  He spent almost 9 days in space.

His second mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-81) as pilot in January 1997 to the space station Mir, spending just over 10 days in space.

His third trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-97) as commander in December 2000 to the International Space Station.

His fourth and final mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-115) as commander in September 2006, the first assembly mission to the International Space Station since the Columbia disaster.

He has spent  over 41 days in space.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Joe Tanner!

Joseph Tanner, born January 21, 1950 in Danville, Illinois, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights.  His first trip into space was as mission specialist on Atlantis (STS-66) in November 1994.

His second trip was on board Discovery (STS-88) in February 1997 to service the Hubble Space Telescope.  He performed two EVAs totaling about 14 hours.

His third flight was on Endeavour (STS-97) in December 2000 to the International Space Station.  He and fellow astronaut Carlos Noriega conducted 3 EVAs for about 19 hours.

His fourth and final flight was back on Atlantis (STS-115) in September 2006 to the ISS, during which he performed a 5 hour 26 minute EVA.