posted 10-27-2007 08:53 AM               

Item number 22 is for Pam Melroy's alma matter. Stephanie Wilson chose to fly number 52 in connection with her former summer job. Items 70 through 78 will be returned by Paolo Nespoli. And oh yes, item 18 is Luke Skywalker's lightsaber...

posted 10-27-2007 08:57 AM               

A patch from the International Women's Air & Space Museum went up with Commander Pam Melroy as this is an historic flight for women in space.

Congrats to all, Marcy

posted 10-27-2007 08:58 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by space4u:
A small piece of the museum I help out is IN space on STS-120.

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posted 10-27-2007 09:03 AM               

When Pam offered to fly it she told me that our patch was on a standby list in case someone else didn't get their item submitted in time. So it was a nice surprise to learn on cS that we had made it to orbit.

Tim

posted 10-27-2007 02:37 PM               

Two silver STS-120 medals (like those sold at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in also aluminum and bronze), as well as a patch for Lombard, Illinois, Dan Tani's hometown (Photo: S120-E-006051).

posted 10-31-2007 06:35 AM               

Astronaut Honors Family Accomplishments in the Panama Canal

On October 23, 2007, NASA launched its 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station. NASA Astronaut Dr. Scott E. Parazynski will take with him aboard the shuttle DISCOVERY two Roosevelt medals from the official collection of the Panama Canal Museum, located in Seminole, Florida.

Parzazynski's connection to the Panama Canal derives from his family ancestry, Colonel David DuBose Gaillard, a distinguished and widely acclaimed member of the US Army Corps of Engineers charged with the monumental task of cutting through the Continental Divide in Panama. The treacherous nine-mile strip of mountainous terrain, known as Culebra Cut, was later renamed Gaillard Cut in honor of Col. Gaillard, who died in 1913 before the Canal project was completed.

In honor of his family's contribution to the building of the Panama Canal, Dr. Parazynski plans personally to present one Roosevelt medal, along with a mission-flown American flag, to the Panama Canal Museum and the other medal, with a mission-flown Panamanian flag, to the Administrator of the Panama Canal Authority in Panama.

Roosevelt Medals were awarded to American employees of the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914. They were received with enthusiasm by employees who had served at least two years of continuous service during the Canal's construction period. The obverse face of the medal carries the likeness of President Theodore Roosevelt, for whom the medal is named. The reverse face depicts an image of the Gaillard Cut, the seal of the Canal Zone and the phrase, "The Land Divided, the World United."

On each medal is imprinted the name of the recipient, and for every two additional years of canal service, an individually-numbered bar was issued, which could be attached to the original medal. The Roosevelt medal was highly prized by the American employees; despite the incredible hardships they experienced during the Canal's construction, many a worker resisted the impulse to tell his boss, "I quit!" for fear of not completing the two-year period required to receive the medal or a bar. According to the record, there were awarded 7,391 Roosevelt medals; 3,883 first bars (indicating four years of service); 1,865 second bars (six years); 636 third bars (eight years); and only 41 fourth bars, signifying workers who had served the full ten-year construction period.

Parazynski's family enjoys a rare distinction: Not only was Colonel David Dubose Gaillard a Roosevelt medal recipient, but his son, David St. Pierre Gaillard, also received a medal for his work with the Panama Canal.

posted 10-31-2007 04:15 PM               

Boston Symphony Orchestra Music To Be Taken On Space Shuttle Flight Launching October 23

Pittsfield Native, Astronaut Stephanie Wilson To Bring Page From Beethoven's "Ode To Joy" On Mission

When the Space Shuttle mission STS-120 launches on Tuesday, October 23, it will be carrying a bit of Tanglewood with it, a page from the conducting score of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, the "Ode to Joy" signed by Maestro James Levine and the members of the Boston Symphony. Wilson will be making her second trip into space for this mission to the International Space Station. The crew will install at gateway hub module, called "Harmony," which will serve as the attach point for the European and Japanese laboratory modules launching on upcoming missions.

NASA allows astronauts to fly momentos for groups with whom they have a personal association and Astronaut Stephanie Wilson, who was raised in Pittsfield, MA and once worked in the music store at Tanglewood, reached out last spring to the BSO. Ms. Wilson will bring the music with her on the flight and will present it back to the BSO after the 14 day mission returns. Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" is performed annually at Tanglewood and is one of the most beloved pieces of music in the repertoire. Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is in Lenox, Massachusetts.

For additional information about Tanglewood, visit www.tanglewood.org.

posted 11-01-2007 09:04 PM               

Medal in orbit aboard latest space mission

When students at Sts. Cyril & Methodius School look up into the sky these days, they know their school is represented by a special object on board the space shuttle Discovery orbiting high above the Earth.

A medal that is given to graduates for high academic achievement is aboard the shuttle, and students couldn’t be more proud.

This summer the school received a phone call from Mark Sowa who works at NASA in Houston, according to Principal Shirley Tkachuk. Sowa was married at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, and he suggested the school send a memento that could be placed on the flight.

posted 11-04-2007 04:37 PM               

From the Army Aviation Association of America:

Established in 1990 as a joint venture between the AAAA and the U.S. Army Aviation Center (USAAVNC), the Order of Saint Michael recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of Army Aviation in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient's seniors, subordinates, and peers. These individuals must also demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and moral character, display an outstanding degree of professional competence, and serve the United States Army Aviation or civilian aviation community with distinction. The AAAA is the sponsoring agency and provides financial resources, administrative control, and publicity.

The legend of Saint Michael defeating the dragon exemplifies the bravery and gallantry associated with the aviation soldier and the boldness and swiftness of aviation on the battlefield. As a brave warrior and protector, Saint Michael is the embodiment of courage and justice and is an appropriate symbol of excellence in Army Aviation.

Appearing before a most arduous and discriminatory committee of tried and proven Army Aviators and Aviation Patriots, be it known that Douglas Wheelock was tested and found worthy of special recognition for outstanding contributions to the community of Army Aviation and is hereby inducted into The Honorable Order of Saint Michael.

The archangel Saint Michael is the embodiment of courage, justice, and gallantry. So too, the aforementioned individual embodies these qualities and represents excellence in aviation. Therefore, the President of the Army Aviation Association of America Inc., with the concurrence of the Chief of Army Aviation, acknowledges that this patriot is due special honor and respect for now and posterity.

posted 07-19-2008 11:32 PM               

Mission specialist Doug Wheelock explained why during his 2007 pre-flight interview with collectSPACE:

"He used to play for the New York Yankees, and when I grew up in upstate New York, he was my hero," Wheelock told collectSPACE. "Right around Christmas of last year, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and he came here to MD Anderson [Cancer Center] in Houston to get treatment. I reached out to him to try to share what he has meant to me over the years, giving me a sense of teamwork... just kind of a role model to me."

"We have met several times now and he's become a dear friend. I am carrying one of his jerseys to space with me, as well as one of his baseball cards, it's actually a [card] with him and Pete Rose on the baseball card, for him," he said.

Wheelock, reached in Moscow, where he is being trained to command the space station in 2010, said he had borrowed Murcer's jersey once more. He had traveled to Mount Everest to help another astronaut from his flight, Scott E. Parazynski, try for the summit. Parazynski did not make it -- back spasms kept him from the last day's climb -- but once again, Wheelock got pictures of the pinstripes in an unusual place.

"I was just kind of praying he'd make it till I got the chance to go back and see him," Wheelock said of Murcer. "I've still got the jersey at my home in Houston."

posted 10-03-2008 08:52 PM               

NASA Astronaut Presents Space-Flown Flag to Panama Canal Authority

NASA Astronaut Dr. Scott Parazynski presented the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) with a Panama flag and collection of photos in honor of his ancestor, Colonel David DuBose Gaillard, and Gaillard's contribution to the original construction of the Panama Canal. In an official ceremony at the Miraflores Locks with Panamanian Environment Minister Ligia Castro de Doens and U.S. Ambassador to Panama Barbara Stephenson, Dr. Parazynski presented the items - which were flown into space during his most recent mission - to ACP Administrator/CEO Alberto Aleman Zubieta for showcase at the Miraflores Visitors Center.

In the early part of the twentieth century, acclaimed member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Gaillard was charged with the monumental task of cutting through the Continental Divide in Panama. The treacherous nine-mile strip of mountainous terrain, now known as the Culebra Cut, was later renamed Gaillard Cut in honor of Colonel Gaillard who died in 1913 before the Canal project was completed. Descendant to Colonel Gaillard, Dr. Parazynski took a VIP tour of the Canal with Mr. Aleman Zubieta and commented upon the similarities between space and oceanic advancement in that both require highly skilled experts committed to excellence.

"Like any large undertaking, the Panama Canal for example, with so many dedicated, educated, hard-working people, you have to divide and conquer. Not any one person can know everything or do everything," said Dr. Parazynski. "These are very critical operations. Huge tankers coming through with very little margin for error and I know that the people here are very professional and take this responsibility very seriously. So the space department is very similar to the Canal."

A veteran of five space shuttle flights, Dr. Parazynski has logged 1,381 flight hours in a variety of aircrafts and is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Space Flight Medals and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Most recently, Dr. Parazynski received a NASA Space Flight Medal in 2007 for performing an unprecedented spacewalk to repair a space station solar array damaged during the STS-120 Discovery space mission.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)

The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please refer to the ACP's Web site.