Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Stephen Oswald!

Stephen Scot Oswald, born June 30, 1951 in Seattle, Washington, is a veteran of three space shuttle flights. 

His first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-42) as pilot in January 1992.  The shuttle carried the International Microgravity Laboratory and Spacelab module. 

His second mission was again aboard Discovery (STS-56) as pilot in April 1993.

His third and final mission was as commander on Endeavour (STS-67) in March 1995.

Discovery (STS-42) launched 1992

STS-42 crew (L-R): Stephen Oswald, Roberta Bondar, Norman Thagard, Ronald Grabe, David Hilmers, Ulf Merbold, William Readdy

STS-42 mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-42), launched January 22, 1992, carried seven astronauts into space to study the effects of microgravity on different organisms.  Its crew consisted  of Commander Ronald Grabe, Pilot Stephen Oswald, Norman Thagard, William Readdy, David Hilmers, Roberta Bondar (CSA) and Ulf Merbold (ESA).

Merbold, Germany's first astronaut, made his second flight on STS-42.  Roberta Bondar was Canada's first female astronaut and this was her only space flight.

They landed January 30.

Discovery (STS-56) launched 1993

STS-56 crew: Seated (L-R):  Stephen Oswald, Kenneth Cameron; 

Standing (L-R): Kenneth Cockrell, Michael Foale, Ellen Ochoa

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-56), launched April 8, 1993, was the first flight with a Latina astronaut.  Its crew consisted of Commander Kenneth Cameron, Pilot Stephen Oswald, Michael Foale, Kenneth Cockrell and Ellen Ochoa.

During the flight, the crew made a brief radio contact with the Russian space station Mir.  They returned to Earth April 17.