UPDATED: UTD flag flies in space; returns to earth; becomes part of university history

by PegNews wire

The UTD flag flown in space attended by Dean of Libraries Larry Sall

After flying aboard the Space Shuttle as part of astronaut (and UTD alumnus) Jim Reilly's stowage, a University of Texas at Dallas flag spent some time aboard the International Space Station before returning to Earth with Reilly, at which point he presented it (with moderate fanfare) to "faculty, staff and students of the University of Texas at Dallas, where the uncompromising search for academic excellence provides students the ability to reach past their expectations."

The flag was accompanied by a framed collage of flight memorabilia, including a crew patch and a small Texas flag that also went up in the Shuttle with Reilly.

For a Pegnews interview with astronaut Reilly, shuttle your mouse on over here.

Farris Rookstool III, Walt Cunningham and Jim Reilly

UPDATE: Farris Rookstool III, CEO of Powerhousepr, Inc. (and a big supporter of the Frontiers of Flight Museum), contributes this photo of another flag Jim Reilly took with him on the same shuttle mission: a Frontiers of Flight Museum flag that he (Farris) designed and created. (You can see it on the upper left of the plaque being held by Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham.) Farris and Walt were at the Cape (Canaveral, that is) to watch Jim blast off in the shuttle Atlantis.

Turns out Farris went to school with Jim at UTD, and the plucky astronaut flew the little flag on the mission as a favor to his buddy and former classmate, Farris.

Ain't friendship swell?

posted by JM

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Pavel Lishin, says:

I wonder if the astronauts ever grumble about being loaded down with favors from their friends when their weight allowance is already pretty small.

"Damnit, the toothbrush went out the airlock again! If I didn't have this stupid trinket, I could have brought a spare, but noooooo, Wally's lucky sneaker just HAD to go into space..."