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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