Buzz Lightyear Goes "TO INFINITY AND BEYOND" With NASA

Buzz finally has his dream come true! Disney Parks and NASA will send the 12-inch-tall action figure "to infinity and beyond!" Liftoff is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. May 31, 2008 from Kennedy Space Center.

Buzz will be flying into space with NASA on the Space Shuttle Discovery, mission STS-124. Buzz will be flying in zero gravity -- with the help of his crew, the seven astronauts on the mission to install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) and the lab's robotic arm system.

Buzz will be participating in an experiment flying in zero gravity and will be in a video down link from the ISS. After several months in space at the International Space Station (ISS), he'll be returning home to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

This is all part of NASA's "Toys in Space" initiative and celebrates the opening of the "Toy Story Mania!" at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (opening May 31) and Disneyland Resort in California (opening June 17).

From Disney and NASA:
Through this program, Buzz will help introduce fun elements from space into science and math classrooms across the country. With Buzz will launch the aspiration of millions of school children who dream of space travel. STS-124 will coincide with the kickoff of the Space Ranger Education Series - part of NASA's "Toys in Space," an educational program for teachers and students. The program builds on NASA's educational goals of encouraging students to pursue studies in science, technology and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which are vitally important in sustaining U.S. economic competitiveness and technological leadership.

Developed by Disney and NASA, "Toys in Space" features materials for educators to download and integrate into their classroom curriculum as well as online, educational games linked to each key component of the mission. The series, hosted at NASA.gov, will be available throughout 2008.

Thanks to collectSPACE for the heads up!

Also Read:
Tom Corbett Space Cadet Lunch Box Goes Into Outer Space

Elsewhere on the Web:
Buzz Lightyear Becomes Real Space Ranger on collectSPACE
Buzz Aldrin Trains Buzz Lightyear -- Watch Video

Sources Include:
Disney
NASA