Nation : Astronaut Has Space Birthday as Shuttle Enters 8th of 10 Days
The strains of “Danny Boy” awakened Columbia commander Dan Brandenstein on his 47th birthday today, and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” filled the cabin as the shuttle circled Earth 200 miles in space.
The astronaut corps serenaded him, and basketball star Larry Bird radioed congratulations as the shuttle’s five-member crew settled in for another day of scientific experiments on the eighth day of the 10-day mission.
“Congratulations to you and the crew on the slam dunk with LDEF. Happy birthday and have a safe landing,” said Boston Celtics’ star Bird.
LDEF is the Long Duration Exposure Facility, the 11-ton science laboratory the astronauts plucked from space on Friday and tucked into the shuttle’s cargo bay.
The control center also played a recording made by the astronaut corps, singing “Happy Birthday” to the “Boss.” Brandenstein is chief of the 90-member corps.
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