Space Fantasy Meets Reality As Shuttle Carries Lightsaber

HOUSTON (AP) _ The Discovery astronauts will have a little something extra in their gear when the space shuttle blasts off in October: Luke Skywalker's original Jedi Lightsaber. <br/><br/>As part of

Tuesday, August 28th 2007, 8:37 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ The Discovery astronauts will have a little something extra in their gear when the space shuttle blasts off in October: Luke Skywalker's original Jedi Lightsaber.

As part of the "Star Wars'" 30th anniversary celebration, NASA has agreed to carry the prop weapon into orbit and jettison it in space.

Details will be announced in Houston today. But collectSPACE.com says the lightsaber will be handed over to the space agency by Chewbacca at the Oakland Airport, not far from George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. It reports the priceless piece will be greeted in Houston by a group of Stormtroopers along with R2D2.