Happy birthday, cosmonaut Maksim Surayev!

Maksim Surayev, born May 24, 1972 in the former USSR, is a veteran of two space missions.

His first flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-16 to the International Space Station, launched in September 2009.  He participated in Expeditions 21 and 22. 

His second and final flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-13M to the International Space Station in May 2014.  He participated in Expeditions 40 and 41.  He returned to Earth in November 2014.

Surayev conducted two EVAs.  The first on January 14, 2010 with fellow cosmonaut Oleg Kotov.  The second with Aleksandr Samokutyaev in October 22, 2014.  The total time he has spent on EVAs is 9 hours, 22 minutes.

Soyuz TMA-13M launched 2014

Soyuz TMA-13M crew (L-R): Alexander Gerst, Reid Wiseman, Maksim Surayev

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-13M, launched May 28, 2014, carried the members of Expedition 40 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Maksim Surayev (Roscosmos), Reid Wiseman (NASA), and Alexander Gerst (ESA).

They returned to Earth November 10, 2014.

Happy birthday, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst!

Alexander Gerst, born May 3, 1976 in West Germany, is an astronaut for the European Space Agency.  He has been in space twice.

His first into space was aboard Soyuz TMA-13M as flight engineer in May 2014 to the International Space Station.  He participated in Expeditions 40 and 41.  He returned to Earth in November 2014.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz MS-09 in June 2018 as flight engineer to the ISS.  He participated in Expeditions 56 and 57.  He returned to Earth in December 2018.

Happy birthday, astronaut Reid Wiseman!

Reid Wiseman, born November 11, 1975 in Baltimore, Maryland(!), made his first trip to space aboard Soyuz TMA-13M to the International Space Station for Expedition 40/41.  The mission lasted from May to November 2014.  His crew mates aboard Soyuz were Maksim Surayev (Russia) and Alexander Gerst (Germany).