Luke Skywalker's lightsaber heading into space

According to recent news out of NASA, the next time the Discovery crew take their ship into orbit, the "force" will be with them -- because they're taking Luke Skywalker's lightsaber along for the ride. That's right, for the film's 30th anniversary, the original lightsaber prop from the first Star Wars film is taking a ride into actual space... but that's not all. Apparently, Chewbacca will be on hand to pass the saber to officials from the Houston Space Center, and then together with Jango and Boba Fett, he will help push a plane back on the tarmac (for reasons unknown to us). But wait, there's more. When the Discovery lands in Houston returns after its space travels, the crew will be greeted by a group of Stormtroopers and other "Star Wars notables," including the much-loved R2-D2, who will then deliver the lightsaber to a waiting line of Hummers. Afterwards, there will be a party at the Mos Eisley Cantina, where Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes will play a set of their greatest hits.

[Via Slashdot]

[Mike @ Aug 28th 2007 12:43PM]

I guess Luke will have to craft a new lightsaber. I wonder if he'll make one for me too while he's at it?

[Brian @ Aug 28th 2007 12:44PM]

Your tax dollars at work.

Build a real lightsaber and then I'll be impressed.

[RWD fan @ Aug 28th 2007 12:46PM]

I had you beat the first time I tried to post!

Great minds and all that....

[James @ Aug 28th 2007 2:02PM]

I've gotta say, if DARPA is going to offer a million-dollar prize, what would you rather they spend it on? Today, it's "autonomous truck", right? If they ever get that one sorted, they should do "functioning light saber" next -- it might not be the most effective weapon, but can you imagine the bricks our enemies would shit if they saw a handful of Navy Seals coming up to them with frickin' light sabers?


OK, so, maybe not, but still we can dream, right?

[RWD fan @ Aug 28th 2007 12:45PM]

There's your tax dollars at work, folks!

(had to repost, didn't show up the first time)

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 28th 2007 12:45PM]

I have a bad feeling about this...

[Xzavier @ Aug 28th 2007 2:00PM]

--feeling or Force!

[Jackie @ Aug 28th 2007 12:46PM]

Wonder if they will paint the shuttle like a x-wing...lol

[HineyWipe @ Aug 28th 2007 12:47PM]

Happy Anniversary to Starwars and Mr Lucas!
(Please hire me. No, I will not be a P.A.)

[John @ Aug 28th 2007 12:47PM]

so sad. so, so sad.

[Xavier Gill @ Aug 28th 2007 1:16PM]

Ugh, We have product placement in the Space Program now? Disgusting

[Marc @ Aug 28th 2007 12:48PM]

seriously?

[Aaron @ Aug 28th 2007 12:51PM]

Uh, Discovery doesn't ever land in Houston. For any reason. It's never even been to Houston.

[lisana @ Aug 28th 2007 2:54PM]

No, but if the article poster had read the original article on collectspace.com instead of just /., they might have gotten the details right: The prop is being flown from Oakland to Houston, where it will be on display through labor day at the Houston Space Center before being prepped for its trip to Florida to go on the shuttle.

[Aaron @ Aug 28th 2007 3:52PM]

See, that's much better.

[recon @ Aug 28th 2007 12:52PM]

...
....
.....
...why?...
.....
....
...

[Luke @ Aug 28th 2007 12:56PM]

Why can't yall just take it for the fun its worth. shesh, I can think of a lot worse things the goverment has done with our money, why not have some fun with it. Guess a 2-3lb package on the shuttle just isn't worth it anymore.

[Andrew @ Aug 28th 2007 1:01PM]

Apparently the most dangerous thing in spaceflight is no longer the heat-resistant tiles... it's Mynocks chewing on the power cables.

They should have just stuck with the Firefly DVD's.

[diggler @ Aug 28th 2007 1:02PM]

Mos Eisley?!!! But you'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!

Except maybe Washington, DC.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 28th 2007 1:08PM]

Washington, DC??

We must be cautious...

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 28th 2007 1:08PM]

Washington, DC??

We must be cautious...

[injate @ Aug 28th 2007 1:06PM]

This is a stupid idea. Keep your pop culture out of science, bastards.

[JC @ Aug 28th 2007 1:21PM]

Aside from the cheesy costumes and such from this particular event, what a stupid thing to say.

I'll refer you to "How William Shatner Changed the World", which is a shining example of how people who had dreams of making sci-fi real, and invented things like cell phones, and *gasp* computers.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814142/

How if they could only invent a ray gun to shut up people who talk out their ass...

[Xzavier @ Aug 28th 2007 2:07PM]

Well I guess you didn't watch, Star Wars the Legacy Revealed, on the History Channel.
http://www.starwars.com/community/news/media/news20070501b.html
http://www.history.com/minisites/starwarslegacy/

Now run to your nearest DVD store... and may the Force be with you!

[injate @ Aug 28th 2007 2:21PM]

That's great! Yes, the shows did inspire people. Now lets get back on topic about how bringing a movie prop into space benefits sciences.

[ronh @ Aug 28th 2007 5:28PM]

Stupid Jules Verne and his 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. How dare you influence and build future science fact with your science fiction!

[Johnny Appleseed @ Aug 28th 2007 1:22PM]

Ok. All I have to say after reading this is; "WTF?"

[ryantrevisol @ Aug 28th 2007 2:59PM]

Seconded. Chewie, Jango and Boba pushing a plane back on the tarmac? What is the significance of that? Will this be after they have him use a hyperspanner to fix the anti-grav coils?

[Boynamedsue @ Aug 28th 2007 1:37PM]

I like star wars and all...

But Jesus Christ, its hard enough to take NASA seriously without men in fursuits wishing them godspeed.

[Raúl C. @ Aug 28th 2007 1:46PM]

April Fooooools!!!!

But...

... wait a minute...

[Firley @ Aug 28th 2007 1:48PM]

I can't believe no one has pointed out that you have DARTH VADER's light saber in the graphic, not Luke's. Amateurs!

[Boynamedsue @ Aug 28th 2007 1:50PM]

i'd have pointed that out.. if it were actually the case.

[zib @ Aug 28th 2007 3:42PM]

It was originally Anakin's. It was passed to Luke later, but Luke's lightsaber is technically different.

[Richard @ Aug 28th 2007 9:02PM]

Gay

[seamus2514 @ Aug 28th 2007 1:49PM]

It's a hoax. DIscovery doesn't land in Houston

[huh? @ Aug 28th 2007 1:53PM]

Joey Engadget, sometimes less is more. Your poorly written prose tells me nothing. Check out a book is called "On Writing Well" by William Zinzzer. "Writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it."

[Stephen Moore @ Aug 28th 2007 1:54PM]

Did you even read the article before you posted your summary of it? Discovery will not be greeted by R2-D2 when it lands! The article says that Chewbacca will hand the lightsaber over to NASA officials at Oakland International Airport who will then fly to William P. Hobby Airport in Houston. They will be greeted by the Storm Troopers and R2-D2 with Hummers waiting to take the lightsaber to Space Center Houston where it will be displayed until Labor Day. After that it will travel to Florida for the launch. This is a silly story, but get it right!

[silvarga @ Aug 28th 2007 8:36PM]

I prefer the summarized version even if only for deliverance of the line: "...who will then deliver the lightsaber to a waiting line of Hummers."

tee hee hee...

[ventivent @ Aug 28th 2007 2:03PM]

Remember after The Empire Strike's Back, Kenner came out with a new X-wing toy that sported char mark stickers?

I guess the space shuttle's broken tiles are actually part of the "battle-damaged" theme.

[dxchase @ Aug 28th 2007 2:05PM]

They should send Jar Jar Binks into space ...

[chris @ Aug 28th 2007 2:28PM]

this isnt tax dollars. its fot the 30th anniversary of star wars not nasa. this is Lucas dollars hard at work.

[Morgan Percy @ Aug 28th 2007 2:33PM]

Sounds like a publicity stunt to me.

[Silvio @ Aug 28th 2007 2:38PM]

Haven't you thought about George Lucas sponsoring NASA. In that case no tax dollars are involved.

[GP @ Aug 28th 2007 2:39PM]

Discovery cannot land in Houston. The only runways used for routine shuttle landings are in California and Florida. Aside from your factual error, it was an amusing story....I guess that is what needs to be done to get kids and kids-at-heart interested in science and space.

[luke @ Aug 28th 2007 3:01PM]

whoa....what's slashdot...

[Secura @ Aug 28th 2007 3:24PM]

I bet they will break it up there. Somehow, some way.

[macona @ Aug 28th 2007 4:22PM]

Hummers? They should be using land speeders...

[Rob @ Aug 28th 2007 4:26PM]

Considering that each space launch costs more than $20 million for each trip, I think any fund raising NASA could do would help.

Maybe we should treat it more like Nascar and cover the shuttle in NASA sponsor stickers. Or Hell,.. throw a friggin' bake sale for cryin' out loud.

[VayVay @ Aug 28th 2007 5:36PM]

@Rob: The Onion already did that joke. :)

NASA, NASCAR to Merge...

[Mark @ Aug 28th 2007 4:39PM]

I hope one of the astronauts chucks that thing toward the sun while yelling "That is what I think of the remade originals and the crappy prequels, Lucas you bastard."