Happy birthday, astronaut James Dutton!

James Dutton Jr., born November 20, 1968 in Eugene, Oregon, went into space aboard space shuttle Discovery (STS-131) as pilot to the International Space Station in April 2010.  He retired from the US Air Force as Colonel in 2014.

STS-131 launch & landing (4-5-10)

STS-131 crew

Seated (L-R): James Dutton, Alan Poindexter

Standing (L-R): Richard Mastracchio, Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Naoko Yamazaki, Clayton Anderson

STS-131 mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131), launched April 5, 2010, was the longest mission for Discovery and the last 7-man crew flight.  Its crew consisted of Commander Alan Poindexter, Pilot James Dutton, Richard Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson, Naoko Yamazaki (JAXA), and Clayton Anderson.

The primary payload was the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo.  Discovery carried food and science supplies to the International Space Station, as well as the Muscle Atrophy Resistive Exercise (MARES) rack.

The crew returned to Earth April 20, after over 15 days in space. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Clayton Anderson!

Clayton Anderson, born February 23, 1959 in Ashland, Nebraska, has been in space twice.  

His first trip into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-117) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in June 2007.  He remained aboard the ISS as part of Expeditions 15 and 16, returning to Earth on Discovery (STS-120) in November 2007.

His second and final flight was aboard Discovery (STS-131) as mission specialist to the ISS in April 2010.  During the mission, he performed three EVAs with fellow astronaut Rick Mastracchio for about 20 and a half hours.

Alan Poindexter, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1961

Alan Poindexter, born November 5, 1961 in Pasadena, California went into space twice.

His first trip was aboard Atlantis (STS-122) as pilot to the International Space Station in February 2008. The main objective of the mission was to deliver the European Columbus science laboratory, built by the European Space Agency, to the ISS.

His second and final mission was aboard Discovery (STS-131) as commander to the International Space Station in April 2010.  The mission carried supplies and equipment to the ISS.

Poindexter passed away from injuries he suffered in a water scooter accident in July 2012.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Stephanie Wilson!

Stephanie Wilson, born September 27, 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.  She is the second African-American woman in space (third if you count Nichelle Nichols) and has spent more time in space than any African-American, male or female.

Her first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-121) in July 2006 as a mission specialist to the International Space Station. She operated the Candarm2 to transfer equipment and inspect the shuttle for any signs of micro-meteroid damage.

Her second mission was aboard Discovery (STS-120) as mission specialist in October-November 2007 to the ISS.  She operated the Candarm2 again during the mission.

Her third flight was again aboard Discovery (STS-131) as a mission specialist in April 2010 to the ISS. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle and Soyuz astronaut Rick Mastracchio!

Richard "Rick" Mastracchio, born February 11, 1960 in Waterbury, Connecticut, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights and one trip on a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station. 

His first flight into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-106) as mission specialist in September 2000 to the ISS.  He operated the Canadarm to move fellow astronauts Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko as they performed assembly work on the station.

His second flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-118) as mission specialist in August 2007 to the International Space Station.  During the mission he conducted three EVAs, totaling over 18 hours. 

Mastracchio's third flight was aboard Discovery (STS-131) as mission specialist in April 2010 to the ISS.  He conducted 3 EVAs with fellow astronaut Clayton Anderson totaling around 20 1/2 hours.

His fourth and final flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-11M which launched in November 2013 as part of Expeditions 38 and 39.  He performed three EVAs (must be his lucky number!) and returned to Earth in May 2014.

Celebrating Black History Month - Stephanie Wilson, African-American astronaut

Stephanie Wilson is the second black female astronaut to travel into space, after Mae Jemison, and she is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.  She has spent more time in space than any other black astronaut, male or female. 

Born September 27, 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts, she began her astronaut training in August 1996 and first went into space on Discovery (STS-121) as mission specialist in July 2006.  She and fellow astronaut Lisa Nowak operated the robotic arm on the International Space Station during the mission.

Her second flight was on Discovery (STS-120) October-November 2007.  She operated the robotic arm again.

Her third and latest (hopefully not the last) mission was on back on Discovery (STS-131) in April 2010 as mission specialist.  She participated in interviews while on board as well as operating the robotic arm.

Happy birthday, JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki!

Naoko Yamazaki, born December 27, 1970 in Matsudo City, Japan, is an astronaut from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency and flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-131) in April 2010.  She is the second Japanese woman in space after Chiaki Mukai.  STS-131 was the first time two Japanese astronauts were in space at the same time: Yamazaki on Discovery and Soichi Noguchi on the International Space Station.