Happy birthday, cosmonaut Valeri Tokarev!

Valeri Tokarev, born October 29, 1952 in the former Soviet Union, is a veteran of two space flights.

His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-96) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in May-June 1999. He stayed in space for 9 days 19 hours.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz TMA-7 as commander to the International Space Station launched in October 2005. He participated in Expedition 12 while on board the ISS.  He performed two EVAs during the mission.

He has stayed in space over 199 days total.

Kent Rominger, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1956

Ken Rominger, born August 7, 1956 in Del Norte, Colorado, is a veteran of five space shuttle flights.  

His first flight was aboard Columbia (STS-73) as pilot in October 1995.  It was the second mission of the US Microgravity Laboratory.  

His second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-80) as pilot in November-December 1996. It was the longest Shuttle mission at 17 days, 15 hours and 53 minutes.

His third flight was aboard Discovery (STS-85) as pilot in August 1997.  Rominger was originally not assigned to this flight, but replaced Jeffrey Ashby, who asked to be relieved in order to take care of his dying wife.

His fourth flight was aboard Discovery (STS-96) as commander to the International Space Station in May-June 1999.

His fifth and final flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-100) as commander to the ISS in April-May 2001.  The mission installed the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

Discovery (STS-96) launched 1999

STS-96 crew

Front row (L-R): Kent Rominger, Ellen Ochoa, Rick Husband

Back row (L-R): Daniel Barry, Julie Payette, Valeri Tokarev, , Tamara Jernigan

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-96), launched May 27, 1999, was the second mission to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Kent Rominger, Pilot Rick Husband, Daniel Barry, Ellen Ochoa, Tamara Jernigan, Julie Payette (CSA), Valeri Tokarev (Roscosmos).

Jernigan and Barry conducted a spacewalk for almost 8 hours.  The crew returned to Earth on June 7.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Daniel Barry!

Daniel Barry, born December 30, 1953 in Norwalk, Connecticut, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights. 

His first flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-72) as mission specialist in January 1996.  He conducted a spacewalk with fellow astronaut Leroy Chiao.

His second flight was aboard Discovery (STS-96) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in May-June 1999.  He conducted an EVA with fellow astronaut Tamara Jernigan.

HIs third and final flight was aboard Discovery (STS-105) as mission specialist to the International Space Station.  He conducted two EVAs with fellow astronaut Patrick Forrester. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Ellen Ochoa!

Ellen Ochoa, born May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California, is a veteran of four space shuttle missions and is the first Hispanic woman in space.

Her first mission, making history, was aboard Discovery (STS-56) as mission specialist in April 1993.

Her second flight was also as mission specialist on Atlantis (STS-66) in November 1994.

Her third mission was back on Discovery (STS-96) as mission specialist in May-June 1999. It was the first space shuttle mission to dock with the International Space Station.

Her fourth and final mission was on Atlantis (STS-110) in April 2002.

After her retirement as astronaut, she became the first Hispanic and second woman to become director of NASA's Johnson Space Center.  She is also a concert flautist and has performed with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra at Stanford University.  She even played the flute during one of her space shuttle missions!

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Tammy Jernigan!

Tamara Elizabeth Jernigan, born May 7, 1959 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a veteran of 5 space shuttle flights.

Her first flight was on board Columbia (STS-40) in June 1991 as mission specialist.  It was the first flight to have 3 female astronauts.

Her second mission was also on Columbia (STS-52) in October-November 1992.  On this mission, ashes of Gene Roddenberry were carried during the flight.

Jernigan's third flight was on Endeavour (STS-67) in March 1995.  At just over 16 1/2 days, it was Endeavour's longest flight.

Her fourth mission was back on Columbia (STS-80) in December 1996. At just over 17 1/2 days, it was the longest shuttle flight ever.

Her fifth and final flight was on board Discovery (STS-96) May-June 1999.  It was the first space  shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

She retired from NASA in 2001 and is married to fellow ex-astronaut Peter Wisoff.

Happy birthday, Canadian astronaut Julie Payette!

Julie Payette, born October 20, 1963 in Montreal, Canada, is a space shuttle astronaut, a veteran of two missions.  Her first flight was on Discovery (STS-96) in May-June 1999 as mission specialist.  She operated the Canadarm and is the first Canadian aboard the International Space Station.

Her second and final mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-127) in July 2009 also as a mission specialist.

She left the Canadian  Space Agency after her final flight and is now the current Governor General of Canada since October 2017. 

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month - Dr. Ellen Ochoa, first Hispanic Woman in space!

Dr. Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic woman in space, a veteran of four space shuttle mission and currently Director of Johnson Space Center, the first Hispanic woman and second woman to be director.

She made history on her first space shuttle mission (STS-56) on Discovery in April 1993, when she was a mission specialist.  Her second flight was on Atlantis (STS-66) in November 1994.   Her third trip into space was on Discovery again (STS-96) in May-June 1999.  Her final voyage (STS-110) was on Atlantis in April 2002.

She is in the 2017 class to be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.  And she's a classical flautist!