Happy birthday, Eytan Stibbe, 2nd Israeli in space

Eytan Stibbe, born January 12, 1958 in Haifa, Israel, is a space tourist and went into space as part of Axiom Space-1 mission aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon in April 2022. He purchased his ticket into space and demonstrated Israeli technologies during his mission.  He spent over 17 days in space before returning to Earth.

The first Israeli in space was Ilan Ramon who died when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry in 2003.

Soyuz MS-20 launched 2021

Soyuz MS-20 participants (L-R): Yusaka Maezawa, Alexander Misurkin, Yozo Hirano

Soyuz MS-20, launched December 8, 2021 to the International Space Station, carried one cosmonaut and two Japanese space tourists into space.  Its occupants were Commander Alexander Misurkin (Roscosmos), Yusaku Maezawa (art collector), and Yozo Hirano (Maezawa's production assistant). 

It is the first flight of the Soyuz program that did not take any crew members for rotation on the ISS, and was dedicated entirely for a commercial flight.

They returned to Earth December 20, after more than 11 days in space. 

Happy birthday, space tourist Mark Shuttleworth!

Mark Shuttleworth, born September 18, 1973 in South Africa, is the first African from an independent country to travel to space. He launched aboard Soyuz TM-34 in April 2002 as a space tourist to the International Space Station, and returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-33 in May 2002, having spent almost 10 days in space.

Happy birthday, space tourist Charles Simonyi!

Charles Simonyi, born September 10, 1949 in Budapest, Hungary is the fifth space tourist in space.  He is the second Hungarian in space and made two trips to the International Space Station.

His first trip into space was aboard Soyuz TMA-10 in April 2007.  He returned to Earth 12 days later aboard Soyuz TMA-9.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz TMA-14 in March 2009.  He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-13 in April 2009.