As part of Star Wars' 30th Anniversary celebrations, Space Shuttle Discovery will carry an unusual cargo in the form of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber as it lifts off with seven astronauts on its way to the International Space Station later this month.
The famous sci-fi prop was given to NASA officials by some of the main Star Wars characters including Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Jango Fett, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, various X-Wing pilots, Jedi, and stormtroopers from the Golden Gate Garrison of the 501st Legion.
Accepting the lightsaber in a simple ceremony at Oakland International Airport, NASA's Space Centre Houston Director of Marketing Roger Bornstein thanked the Wookie and his friends and promised to bring it back in one piece.
Doug Mattice, of Space Centre Houston, NASA's visitor complex, said: "We hope the Discovery crew get it out while they're up there and spend some time mucking about with it.
"It would be funny to think there were astronauts up in space attacking each other with the Star Wars lightsaber."
Mattice added: "It might not be going to a galaxy far, far away but it's still a six-million-mile journey and that's pretty cool."
Upon its return it will be temporarily be on display at the John Space Centre.
NASA insists the lightsaber will remain stowed for the duration of Discovery's journey, but flight controllers privately admit they wouldn't be surprised if the astronauts were tempted by a little play time.
NASA frequently set aside a small amount of space on every mission for commemorative items and artefacts.
A piece of fabric from the Orville and Wilbur Wright's airplane flew on Discovery in 2000. A cargo tag and coins from historic Jamestown flew in June on board Atlantis. Some of the cremated remains of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the TV series 'Star Trek', launched aboard Columbia in 1992.
Discovery is set to launch on October 23rd.
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