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Author
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Topic: STS-129: From space to Super Bowl XLIV
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-27-2010 06:47 PM
   
From Space to the Super BowlMembers of the STS-129 shuttle mission presented a specially minted silver medallion to National Football League (NFL) officials on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The coin, which was flown in space during the November flight of Atlantis, will be used for the official coin toss prior to the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. One member of Atlantis' crew, Leland Melvin, was drafted by the NFL's Detroit Lions in 1986. The crew also flew other NFL-related memorabilia, including jerseys and a football inscribed with the name of every member of the Hall of Fame. The next shuttle mission, STS-130, is scheduled to launch on Super Bowl Sunday at 4:39 a.m. EST.  Above: From left: astronauts Bobby Satcher, Randy Bresnik, and Charlie Hobaugh; Joe Horrigan, Vice President of Communications/Exhibits for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Steve Perry, President/Executive Director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame; astronauts Berry Wilmore, Michael Foreman and Leland Melvin. Credit: NASA/Marv Smith  
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space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 01-27-2010 07:30 PM
Great presentation at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. Very nice to see fellow collectSPACE'rs Brad and Mark (both who drove to Ohio from Michigan.) Had a nice chat with fellow twitterers, @Astro_Flow and @Astro_Bones about the Space Tweep Society and how much fun twitter is for them and me! Will post some pics.Here's a link to a local TV station's video of some of the event including a funny "space coin toss". Also see the Pro Football Hall of Fame's picture of the event. |
Leon Ford
Member Posts: 309
From: Shreveport, LA, United States
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-27-2010 08:31 PM
I sure hope the STS-130 crew will be pulling for the Saints on Sunday. After all, their External Tank was made in New Orleans!!! Geaux Saints!! |
Jake
Member Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 01-28-2010 10:09 AM
3... 2... 1... "we have kickoff...!" |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-28-2010 12:07 PM
Limited Edition? Is it available to the public? I would be in for one... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-28-2010 12:20 PM
The Highland Mint was authorized by the NFL to produce 10,000 of the coins.The space-flown coin and a backup are reserved for the game (the second coin in case of overtime). The next 98 will be given to the team members and NFL officials. The remaining are now being offered to the public by the Mint for $80 each. |
Rocket Chris
Member Posts: 342
From:
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 01-28-2010 01:04 PM
...ah okay... so I'm not in anymore!  |
xlsteve
Member Posts: 391
From: Holbrook MA, USA
Registered: Jul 2008
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posted 02-09-2010 03:35 PM
Maybe I just missed it, but I don't think the fact that the coin was flown in space was mentioned before, during or after the coin toss. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-09-2010 04:02 PM
Based on other reports, it would appear that if any mention was made of the coin flying in space, it was limited to the stadium audience only.In a way, it continues the story behind the space-flown flip coins, as this was the third time that NASA and the NFL attempted to have a space-flown coin used in the Super Bowl, and so perhaps it should have been expected that it would not proceed without any issue... |
AstronautBrian
Member Posts: 287
From: Louisiana
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-09-2010 07:42 PM
I did not hear any mention of the coin being flown in space before or after the toss by either the official or the tv color guys. I was kind of dissapointed about that. |
space4u
Member Posts: 323
From: Cleveland, OH USA
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 02-10-2010 07:29 AM
Very disappointed that there was no mention on TV during pre-game as to the history of this coin. Boo on the NFL for not providing the large, general audience with that important NASA background information. On a lighter note, there is a great photo that the Michoud workers did of a shuttle external tank with the Saints logo on it. |
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