Astronaut Randolph Bresnik is a new dad again, after launching into space and taking a spacewalk, all for the first time. He announced the birth of his daughter, Abigail, on Sunday morning on NASA's airwaves.

Enlarge NASA via Reuters Spacewalkers Mike Foreman, left, and Randy Bresnik, right, undertook the second spacewalk of Atlantis' visit to the International Space Station. U.S. astronaut on spacewalk while child is born CAPE CANAVERAL  Atlantis astronauts have delivered more than 14 tons of spare parts and supplies to the International Space Station over the past week, but this shuttle mission may be best remembered for a 6-pound, 13-ounce bundle delivered back on Earth. After two days of anticipation, shuttle astronaut Randy Bresnik's wife, Rebecca, gave birth to Abigail Mae Bresnik at 11:04 p.m. Saturday in Houston. "Momma and baby are doing very well," Bresnik, a 42-year-old Marine test pilot and mission specialist, radioed Sunday morning to NASA's Mission Control Center. "On behalf of the planet Earth ground team, please accept our heartfelt congratulations," replied Stan Love, an astronaut communicating with the crew from Houston. Bresnik is scheduled to conduct a six-hour spacewalk today, his second in three days and the last planned during Atlantis' 11-day mission. He kept tabs on Rebecca's labor after his first spacewalk Saturday, and she gave him the good news by phone after he awoke early Sunday. The morning song played for the crew, selected by family members, also delivered the message. MISSION: Astronauts step out on first spacewalk "There's two things I know for sure: She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl," began the lyrics to singer Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses. Bresnik became the second U.S. astronaut to be in orbit for the birth of a child. Space station flight engineer Mike Fincke was the first in 2004. A videoconference and photos uplinked Sunday provided the proud father his first opportunity to see Abigail, while orbiting 220 miles above Earth. In a video shot by crewmates, Bresnik said he was "amazed and awed" by the views his first spacewalk afforded, which were second only to seeing his wife for the first time. "I think once I get to see the pictures today of our new daughter, (spacewalking) is going to have to take third place," he said. Atlantis crewmates Leland Melvin and Bobby Satcher, who is Bresnik's spacewalking partner today, offered celebratory fist bumps. The baby's birth combined with the 11-day shuttle mission cap a whirlwind year for the family. This time a year ago, they were adopting son Wyatt, now 3, from Ukraine. "We've witnessed the miracle of adoption and the miracle of childbirth all in one year," the astronaut said in a pre-launch NASA interview broadcast Sunday. "We're just amazingly blessed." Doctors had told Rebecca Bresnik, a NASA lawyer, that she likely would not be able to have children. Rebecca and Randy Bresnik said the mission's timing was unfortunate but out of their control. Many military families face the same challenge, they said. "I'm just really excited for him and excited for us," Rebecca Bresnik said. Atlantis and six astronauts blasted off from Kennedy Space Center a week ago today, starting an 11-day voyage to the International Space Station. The Atlantis crew will install 27,000 pounds of spare parts including two steering gyroscopes, a group of tanks and pumps for the station's cooling system and a hand for a robotic arm. Atlantis is scheduled to return to Florida on Friday. Randy Bresnik said he hopes Atlantis commander Charlie "Scorch" Hobaugh guides the shuttle to a safe landing so he can return home "as soon as possible." "I will look forward to that landing, and Scorch making it nice and safe, probably more than anybody has in the history of the space shuttle program," he said. Dean reports for Florida Today. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more