Endeavour (STS-61) launched 1993

STS-61 crew

Front row (L-R): Ken Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Story Musgrave, Claude Nicollier

Back row (L-R): Richard Covey, Jeffrey Hoffman, Thomas Akers

STS-61 mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-61), launched December 2, 1993, was the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.  Its crew consisted of Commander Richard Covey, Pilot Ken Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Claude Nicollier (ESA), Jeffrey Hoffman, Story Musgrave, and Thomas Akers. The crew conducted 5 EVAs during the mission.  Musgrave and Hoffman conducted three EVAs for a total of around 22 hours.  Thornton and Akers performed two spacewalks for about 13 hours.  

They returned to Earth December 13, after spending almost 11 days in space. 

Donald Peterson, Space Shuttle astronaut, born October 22, 1933

Donald Peterson, born October 22, 1933 in Winona, Mississippi, went into space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-6) as mission specialist in April 1983.  It was the maiden flight of Challenger.  He and fellow astronaut Story Musgrave performed an EVA which lasted 4 hours 17 minutes.  He remained in space for just over 5 days.

He passed away in May 2018 from Alzheimer's disease and bone cancer.

Discovery (STS-33) launched 1989

STS-33 crew

Front row (L-R): Kathryn Thornton, Frederick Gregory, Story Musgrave

Back row (L-R): Manley Carter, John Blaha

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-33), launched November 22, 1989, carried a payload for the Department of Defense into space.  Its crew consisted of Commander Frederick Gregory, Pilot John Blaha, Manley Carter, Story Musgrave and Kathryn Thornton.

David Griggs was training to be pilot on this mission but was killed while flying a vintage WWII aircraft.

They deployed a single satellite, suspected to eavesdrop on communist countries.  They returned to Earth November 28.

Challenger (STS-51-F) launched 1985

Front row (seated) L–R: Gordon Fullerton, Roy Bridges, 

Back row (standing) L–R: Anthony England, Karl Henize, F. Story Musgrave, Loren Acton, John-David Bartoe

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-F), launched July 29, 1985, was the only shuttle mission that had to "Abort To Orbit" (ATO).  Shortly after liftoff, a number of sensor failings caused the main engine to shut down and the crew had to abort to orbit.  They achieved orbit at a lower altitude and managed to complete their mission successfully.

Its crew consisted of Commander Gordon Fullerton, Pilot Roy Bridges, Karl Henize, F. Story Musgrave, Anthony England, Loren Acton and John-David Bartoe.  Challenger's primary payload was the lab module Spacelab 2, which involved multiple experiments related to life sciences and physics.

Coca-Cola and Pepsi provided carbonated drinks for the mission in specially-designed cans, but the crew preferred Tang, since it could be mixed with chilled water available on the shuttle.  The carbonated beverages weren't refrigerated and foamed excessively in microgravity.

They returned to Earth August 6.

Remembering Space Shuttle astronaut Don Peterson (1933-2018)

For the second time in a week, a former astronaut has passed away.   Donald Peterson, who was a mission specialist on Challenger's maiden voyage (STS-6) passed away May 27 from Alzheimer's disease and bone cancer.  He was 84.

He was in the third group of astronauts assigned to the US Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program, but when MOL was cancelled he went to NASA as an astronaut.

He served as astronaut support crew for Apollo 16 and then was assigned to the space shuttle program. During the STS-6 mission, he and Story Musgrave performed the first ever EVA of the shuttle program, logging just over 4 hours.

Challenger (STS-6), maiden voyage, launched 1983

STS-6 crew (L-R): Donald Peterson, Paul Weitz, Story Musgrave, Karol Bobko

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Challenger took off on her maiden voyage April 4, 1983.  It was the first mission during which an EVA was conducted.  Its crew consisted of Commander Paul Weitz, Pilot Karol Bobko, Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson. Weitz, the only non-rookie, had served as Pilot on Skylab 2.

They returned to Earth April 9.

Atlantis (STS-44) launched 1991

 

Left to right - Seated: Hendricks, Gregory, Musgrave; Standing: Voss, Hennen, Runco

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis launched November 24, 1991 on a mission for the Department of Defense.  Her crew consisted of Commander Frederick Gregory, Pilot Terence Henricks, Mission Specialist 1 James Voss, Mission Specialist 2 Story Musgrave, Mission Specialist 3 Mario Runco, Jr. and Payload Specialist Thomas Hennen.

They landed December 1 at Edwards Air Force Base and took over 3 miles and 107 seconds to come to a complete stop.  This was due to testing of the minimal braking system.

It was the first space shuttle landing on a dry lake bed.

Columbia (STS-80) launched 1996

Back row (L-R): Tamara Jernigan, Thomas Jones

Front row (L-R): Kent Rominger, Story Musgrove, Kenneth Cockrell

Mission patch

Columbia blasted off November 19, 1996 was the longest Space Shuttle flight, lasting 17 days, 15 hours and 53 minutes.  Her crew was Commander Kenneth Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialist Story Musgrave, Mission Specialist Thomas Jones and Mission Specialist Tamara Jernigan.

Tom Jones and Tamara Jernigan were to have performed two EVAs but both were cancelled.

Happy birthday, astronaut Story Musgrave!

Story Musgrave, born August 19, 1935, is a space shuttle astronaut and is the second person to make 6 trips into space!  He is the only person to have flown on all 5 shuttles.  Musgrave and his fellow astronauts on STS-61 mission (Endeavour) appeared on an episode of Home Improvement.