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Author
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Topic: NASA shuttle to launch Luke's lightsaber
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-19-2007 11:18 PM
   
quote:
Originally posted by Lunar rock nut:
I wonder what powers it, Duracell or Energizer?
If you really must know: Howstuffworks "How Lightsabers Work" |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-19-2007 11:20 PM
Or just ask Jim Reilly... |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-19-2007 11:40 PM
What powers it? Why the Force of course.  |
Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 911
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 10-20-2007 10:03 AM
Okay, so it is a Diatium powercell. Must be whats in the Bunny since he can jump start alien spacecraft. Robert, great link. I particularly found the section on uses around the home interesting along with all of the safety warnings. Too cool! As a fencer I am going to have to get one. I was runner-up or the silver medalist in the 1989 Sooner State Games in Sabre, sadly I lost the Gold medal by one touch. But at least the gentleman that defeated me Jerry Benson went on to teach and take kids to compete in the Junior Olympics and has a successful Fencing Sal here in Oklahoma City. Oh and Francis you should send your picture to Jim. I think he would like to have that one! |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-20-2007 10:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Terry:
Francis you should send your picture to Jim. I think he would like to have that one!
Done! |
Rodina
Member Posts: 836
From: Lafayette, CA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 10-20-2007 01:54 PM
I don't get this whole "fly some known artifact that's got its own history into space" thing. Flags, patches, that sort of stuff, sure. Some personal memento? Yes. Flight hardware? It's all good. But Luke Skywalker's lightsaber? I mean, would flying King George III's chamberpot to the space station make it more valuable? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-20-2007 02:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rodina:
But Luke Skywalker's lightsaber? I mean, would flying King George III's chamberpot to the space station make it more valuable?
Not to rehash the points already raised by myself and others on the first page of this thread, but it's not about making things more valuable; the items NASA and the astronauts choose to fly in the Official Flight Kit are to thank those that have supported the space agency and its crews over the years. Many NASA employees today credit Star Wars as providing some of the inspiration that led them to their current careers.And anyway, it's not like the lightsaber was the first of its type to fly. On average, shuttle missions carry between 3,000 and 5,000 mementos for distribution post-flight to people and organizations that support the mission/NASA, thus the lightsaber is roughly amongst the 500,000th item to be launched for these purposes. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 11-03-2007 07:06 PM
If anyone noticed, the flight day 12 wakeup call was Star Wars. To which Scott replied "Luke, I am your father. Use the Force Luke," since it was music from his son. Of course, since his son's name is Luke, does that make Scott Parazynski "Darth Vader"? And does that make the OBSS as held by the station RMS for this repair the world's largest lightsaber? |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 11-04-2007 08:14 AM
IMHO NASA flying the Star Wars lightsaber was a fantastic idea. It has generated much positive feedback. When I mention the fact to friends and people I work with, they smile and say things like, "That's cool." I'm putting together a display to celebrate 50 years in space and believe me pop-culture icons such as Star Wars, Star Trek, 2001, etc will not only be included but given prominent space. These films/TV shows, etc, inspired millions. I'm not even a Star Wars fan (too much fantasy) but flying that lightsaber put NASA and our space program in a context that non-space fans related to in a positive way. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-04-2007 08:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
If anyone noticed, the flight day 12 wakeup call was Star Wars.
For those who missed it, you can find an audio recording of the call and Parazynski's reaction in several file formats on NASA's website (along with all the other STS-120 wake-up calls). |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-06-2007 02:18 PM
During an in-flight media event with the Associated Press, STS-120 mission specialist Scott Parazynski was asked if he was even a little bit tempted to take the lightsaber along with him on his spacewalk to repair the solar array."All of us have been really dying to get into the lower holds of the ship and dig out the lightsaber," Parazynski said. "But it really would be a lot of work, I think, and I think Pam would frown upon it." |
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