Happy birthday, astronaut Shane Kimbrough!

Robert "Shane" Kimbrough, born June 4, 1967 in Killeen, Texas, has been in space three times.

He graduated from the US Military Academy and flew Apache helicopters in the Operation Desert Storm. He joined NASA in 2000 and was part of the first group of astronauts selected following the Columbia disaster.

His first mission into space was aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-126) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in November 2008.  He conducted two EVAs, lasting a total of almost 13 hours.  He spent almost 16 days in space.

Kimbrough's second trip into space was aboard Soyuz MS-02 as flight engineer to the ISS in October 2016.  He participated in Expeditions 49-50.  He carried a soccer ball belonging to Ellison Onizuka, who died in the Challenger disaster to the ISS. He returned to Earth in April 2017, after over 173 days in space.

His third mission into space was aboard SpaceX Crew-2 as commander to the ISS in April 2021 to the ISS. He participated in Expeditions 65-66. He returned to Earth in November 2021, after more than 199 days in space, the longest US mission to date. 

Happy birthday, astronaut Gregory Chamitoff!

Gregory Chamitoff, born August 6, 1962 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has been in space twice.  

His first trip was aboard Discovery (STS-124) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in May 2008.  He participated in Expeditions 17 and 18 spending about six months on the space station.  He returned to Earth aboard Endeavour (STS-126) in November.

His second mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-134) to the International Space Station in May-June 2011.  He spent almost 16 days in space.  It was the last flight of Endeavour. 

He spent a total of 198 days, 18 hours in space.  

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Donald Pettit!

Donald Pettit, born April 20, 1955 in Silverton, Oregon, is a veteran of three space flights.

His first flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-113) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in November 2002.  He participated in Expedition 6 while aboard the ISS, and conducted two EVAs during the mission.  He returned to Earth Soyuz TMA-1 in May 2003.

His second flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-126)  as mission specialist to the International Space Station in November 2008.  He helped operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm while aboard.

His third and final flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-03 to the International Space Station in December 2011.  He participated in Expeditions 30 and 31. 

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. 

Endeavour (STS-126) launched 2008

L-R: Magnus, Bowen, Pettit, Ferguson, Boe, Kimbrough and Stefanyshyn-Piper 

STS-126 Mission Patch

Endeavour took off on its 22nd flight and the 124th mission (STS-126) of the space shuttle program November 14, 2008.  Her crew consisted of Commander Christopher Ferguson, Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialist Donald Pettit, Mission Specialist Stephen Bowen, Mission Specialist Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Mission Specialist Robert Kimbrough and Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus.

It was the 27th shuttle mission to the International Space Station to conduct repairs. It was the first time cow and pig embryos were carried into space by NASA to see how weightlessness affected embryonic growth.

Stefanyshyn-Piper and Bowen each conducted three EVAs, and Kimbrough performed two during the 16-day mission.

Stefanyshyn-Piper requested Hold On Tight by Electric Light Orchestra as her wake-up song.  Awesome!

Endeavour returned to Earth November 30.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Sandra Magnus!

Sandra Hall Magnus, born October 30, 1964, in Belleville, Illinois, is the veteran of 4 space shuttle flights and one expedition on the International Space Station.  Her first mission was on Atlantis (STS-112) in October 2002 as a mission specialist.

Her second mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-126) in November 2008 to the International Space Station where she remained for 134 days.  She returned to Earth on Discovery (STS-119 [I don't know why the mission numbers are out of sequence]) in March 2009, the first flight for Joe Acaba (back on the ISS).

Her third and final mission was on Atlantis (STS-135) which was the last mission of the Space Shuttle Program July 2011.