CNN is reporting that NASA engineers are trying to identify an object spotted floating away from the Space Shuttle STS 124 earlier today. According to the news reports, astronauts spotted a rectangular object about 1 to 1.5 feet long floating away from the tail of the shuttle. Here’s hoping that everything is all right with the space shuttle. However a certain part of me cannot help but wonder whether that 1.5 foot long object could be Buzz Lightyear escaping?! Recall that during this mission Buzz Lightyear was to fly with the Shuttle as part of a Disney promotion. NASA’s current theory is that what fell off was a metal clip. I’m not so sure about that and wonder whether Buzz may have taken off in pursuit of Emperor Zurg.

Link: CNN

In what certainly must be the “mother of all marketing tie ins”, a joint Disney / NASA press release this morning announces that Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear will be flying into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124 when it lifts off from Kennedy Space Center at 5:02 pm on May 31, 2008. Apparently Buzz will spend several months at the International Space Station testing the limits of zero gravity. According to NASA his mission will include a space walk. No comment from NASA on whether Buzz’s tiny shape will aid them in checking the Shuttle for damaged tiles or if he’s purely a last minute selection due to his ability to never need to use the bathroom. More links and a short video follow.

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