Let's make this birthday one to remember.

81 years old (Born on August 14, 1943)

Happy Birthday, Jon! You've piloted shuttles through space and navigated NASA bureaucracy—frankly, we're not sure which was tougher. From your daring 1984 Challenger mission to steering aviation companies toward success back on Earth, you've always soared above the rest.

Whether floating weightlessly in orbit or gracefully handling gravity-bound boardrooms as a NASA administrator and executive leader—you've proven that age is just another number (though admittedly smaller than orbital velocity). Here's wishing you an astronomical birthday filled with laughter that's truly out of this world. Keep inspiring us all; after all these years you're still our favorite star pilot!