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 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. 

Discovery (STS-121) launched 2006

STS-121 crew (L-R):  Stephanie Wilson, Michael Fossum, Steven Lindsey, Piers Sellers, Mark Kelly, Thomas Reiter, Lisa Nowak.

Mission patch

Space shuttle Discovery (STS-121), launched July 4, 2006, carried equipment and supplies to the International Space Station as well as a German astronaut from the European Space Agency.  Its crew consisted of Commander Steven Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly, Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter (ESA).

Part of the mission was to test new safety and repair techniques put in place by NASA following the Columbia disaster.  Three EVAs were conducted during the mission by Mike Fossum, Mark Kelly and Piers Sellers.

The crew returned to Earth July 17.

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.

Discovery (STS-120) launched 2007

L-R: Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Zamka, Melroy, Tani, Nespoli

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) took off October 23, 2007, being the 23rd mission to the International Space Station.  Commander Pamela Melroy was the second woman after Eileen Collins to become commander of a space shuttle mission.  When they docked with the ISS, Peggy Whitson was commander of the space station so for the first time, there were two female mission commanders in space.

The rest of the crew consisted of Pilot George Zamka, Mission Specialist 1 Douglas Wheelock, Mission Specialist 2 Stephanie Wilson, Mission Specialist 3, Scott Parazynski, Mission Specialist 4 Paolo Nespoli (on the ISS right now!), and Mission Specialist 5 Daniel Tani.