Astronaut Mary Cleave, born February 5, 1947 and went into space twice, passed away November 27, 2023 at age 76. She flew on Atlantis (STS-61-B) as mission specialist in November-December 1985, and on Atlantis (STS-30) as mission specialist in May 1989. She spent almost 11 days in space.
Rodolfo Neri Vela, born in Chilpancingo, Mexico February 19, 1952, is the first astronaut from Mexico and the second Latin-American in space. He traveled aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as a payload specialist in November-December 1985.
Brewster Shaw, born May 16, 1945 in Cass City, Michigan, is a veteran of three space shuttle missions.
His first flight was aboard Columbia (STS-9) as pilot in November-December 1983. It was the first flight of the Spacelab laboratory module.
His second flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as commander November-December 1985. The mission deployed three communications satellites.
His third and final mission was aboard Columbia (STS-28) as commander in August 1989. The mission carried a payload for the Dept of Defense in to orbit.
Shaw was inducted into the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in May 2006.
Sherwood Spring, born September 3, 1944 in Hartford, Connecticut, went into space aboard space shuttle Atlantis (STS-61-B) as mission specialist in November-December 1985. During the mission, he performed two EVAs with fellow astronaut Jerry Ross, lasting over 12 hours.
Charles Walker, born August 29, 1948 in Bedford, Indiana, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights.
His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-41-D) as payload specialist in August-September 1984. He was an employee of McDonnell Douglas and was the first commercially sponsored payload specialist.
His second flight was back aboard Discovery (STS-51-D) as payload specialist in April 1985. He spent almost 7 days in space.
Walker's third and final flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as payload specialist in November-December 1985. A checkered flag was carried on board and is now on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
Bryan O'Connor, born September 6, 1946 in Orange, California, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights.
His first flight was as pilot on Atlantis (STS-61-B) November-December 1985. The mission deployed three communication satellites and tested constructing structures in orbit.
His second was as Commander on Columbia (STS-40) in June 1991. It was the first space lab mission dedicated solely to biology and the first mission to include three women astronauts.
Jerry Lynn Ross, born January 20, 1948 in Crown Point, Indiana, is a veteran of 7 space shuttle flights, tying Franklin Chang-Diaz for the most flights.
His first flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-61-B) as mission specialist November-December 1985. He performed 2 6-hour space walks to demonstrate space station construction techniques.
His second was aboard Atlantis (STS-27) in December 1988 as mission specialist. This trip was cut short due to critical heat-resistant tiles being damaged during liftoff.
During his third flight, back on Atlantis (STS-37) in April 1991, he performed two more EVAs to deploy the Gamma Ray Observatory antenna and test prototype software for the Space Station Freedom.
He served as Payload Commander/Mission Specialist on Columbia (STS-55) in April-May 1993.
He returned to space on Atlantis (STS-74) in November 1995 to space station Mir.
In December 1998, he was on Endeavour (STS-88), which was the first International Space Station assembly mission. Ross performed 3 EVAs totaling 21 hours 22 minutes to connect umbilicals and attach tools and hardware.
His final flight was on Atlantis (STS-110) April 2002, when he performed 2 EVAs for just over 14 hours.
Ross retired from NASA on January 28, 2012 being the first person to go into space 7 times.
Back row L-R: Charles Walker, Jerry Ross, Mary Cleave, Sherwood Spring, Rodolfo Neri Vela
Front row L-R: Bryan O'Connor, Brewster Shaw
Mission patch
Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off November 26, 1985 from Kennedy Space Center for the 23rd mission of the shuttle program. The takeoff came just 54 days after the launch of STS-51-J, the quickest turnaround between launches. Her crew consisted of Commander Brewster Shaw, Pilot Bryan O'Connor, Mission Specialist 1 Jerry Ross, Mission Specialist 2 Mary Cleave, Mission Specialist 3 Sherwood Spring, Payload Specialist Charles Walker and Payload Specialist 2 Rodolfo Neri Vela.
Vela is the first Mexican astronaut in space. Jerry Ross and Sherwood Spring performed two EVAs to demonstrate the feasibility of assembling large structures in space.
Atlantis returned to Earth December 3 at Edwards Air Force Base.
National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, celebrates and recognizes the contributions made to the U.S. from Hispanic and Latino Americans.
To start, I'm going to celebrate Rodolfo Neri Vela, the first and only Mexican in space. Vela's only spaceflight was aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-61-B) as Payload Specialist November - December 1985.
He debuted as a voice actor in 2016 as the intercom announcer for the Institute PA system in the Latin dubbing of Finding Dory.
