From Disneyland News:

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! DISNEY PARKS AND NASA SEND BUZZ LIGHTYEAR INTO SPACE

Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 29, 2008 – The countdown has begun for Buzz Lightyear’s dream come true.

 

Disney Parks and NASA – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration – are sending the beloved action figure “to infinity and beyond!”  Buzz Lightyear will buckle in and blast off aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124.  Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 5:02 p.m. ET on May 31.

 

With Buzz will launch the aspiration of millions of schoolchildren 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 US economic competitiveness and technological leadership.

 

During the mission, the 12-inch-high, self-proclaimed defender of the galaxy will join in mission activities, including a spacewalk in zero gravity, and experience the same G-forces and weightlessness the astronauts do, helping to introduce fun elements from space into science and math classrooms across the country.

 

Buzz’s groundbreaking mission into space also coincides the launch of his latest debut on Earth in Toy Story Mania!, Disney Parks new attraction which opens May 31 at Walt Disney World, Florida and June 17 at Disneyland Resort, California.

 

 “NASA is excited to help students understand the science and engineering currently underway on the International Space Station,” said Dr. Joyce Winterton, NASA Assistant Administrator for Education.  “The educational games and resources from this partnership will allow students to explore the science and math behind space exploration with a beloved character.”

 

Developed by Disney’s Youth Educational Series (Disney Y.E.S.) and NASA, the program will feature materials for educators to download and integrate into their classroom curriculum as well as fun online educational games. Upon visiting the site, educators and school kids will find interactive lessons on testing zero gravity, critical thinking and simple mathematical problem-solving equations tied to each key component of the mission. The program will be hosted at www.nasa.gov from launch until the end of 2008 as part of Buzz’s mission to the International Space Station.  

 

“The Space Ranger Education Series will give teachers an opportunity to incorporate a fun and engaging moment into the classroom with a character that children really love,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  “We’re pleased to join NASA in creating a program that can help keep kids excited about math and science.”

 

Buzz’s Space Itinerary -

Buzz will spend several months in space at the International Space Station (ISS) testing the limits of zero gravity before returning home to a hero’s welcome at Disney World later this year.  While in space, Buzz will participate in an experiment flying in zero gravity and appear in a video downlink from the ISS.

 

The Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-124 will travel with seven astronauts to install Kibo’s large Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM) and the lab’s robotic arm system.

 

For additional information about the educational series and NASA programs, please visit www.nasa.gov.

  

Thinkway Toys, the original Toy Makers of Buzz Lightyear in 1995, are proud to be working in conjunction with Disney/PIXAR and NASA to bring Buzz to life again on his historic and epic return to space on board the Space Shuttle.

___________________________________________________________________

And from NASA:

NASA Launches New Education Initiative With Disney Parks and Buzz Lightyear

 

 

WASHINGTON -- As seven, well-trained astronauts begin an important mission to the International Space Station on Saturday, May 31, one toy astronaut, Buzz Lightyear, will begin a journey to help educate children across the country.

The liftoff of space shuttle Discovery kicks off a new education initiative between NASA and Disney Parks. A 12-inch-tall Buzz Lightyear action figure will be carried aboard the shuttle as part of the partnership to encourage students to pursue studies in science, technology and mathematics, one of NASA's main educational goals.

Disney's Youth Educational Series and NASA have developed an online program known as the Space Ranger Education Series. It includes fun educational games for students, as well as materials for educators to download and integrate into their classroom curriculum.

"NASA is excited to help students understand the science and engineering currently underway on the International Space Station," said Joyce Winterton, NASA assistant administrator for Education. "The educational games and resources from this partnership will allow students to explore the science and math behind space exploration with a beloved character."

Beginning Saturday, May 31, the online games featuring Buzz Lightyear will be available by visiting NASA's homepage and clicking on the box for the NASA Kids' Club at:

http://www.nasa.gov

The five educational games are:

"Mission Match Up: Create a Game" -- Match the International Space Station partner countries to space facts

"Connect it! Flight Path" -- Attach the Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station using a sequence of commands

"Load the Shuttle" -- Fill the shuttle with cargo to a certain mass

"I Spy: Reflections from Space" -- Find everyday objects on the International Space Station that were built on NASA technology

"Toys in Space" -- Navigate Buzz Lightyear to different toys to see a movie on how they behave in space

Since 1985, NASA's Toys in Space project has used toys flown aboard the shuttle and the International Space Station to help children learn science and mathematics. Scientific and mathematical principles make these toys work. For example, wind-up toys convert stored potential energy in their springs into kinetic energy as the springs unwind. Gravity often plays an important role in the actions of toys, but how would the same toys function in an environment where the effects of gravity are not felt? Only NASA can provide the settings, so students can discover the answer to questions like these.

"We are thrilled that Buzz's lifelong dream of space travel finally will come true thanks to NASA," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "This launch fulfills his dream, and we hope it will inspire countless children to stay interested in science and believe in their own dreams."

The beginning of Buzz's space mission coincides with the opening of "Toy Story Mania!," a new 4-D interactive attraction, on May 31 at Walt Disney World, Fla., and on June 17 at Disneyland Resort, Calif.

For information about other NASA education programs, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about the STS-124 shuttle mission and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Astronauts Gregory E. Chamitoff (left), Expedition 17 flight engineer; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Akihiko Hoshide, Ronald J. Garan, Michael E. Fossum, Karen L. Nyberg, all STS-124 mission specialists; Mark E. Kelly and Kenneth T. Ham, STS-124 commander and pilot, respectively, pose for a group photo prior to a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. The crewmembers are wearing training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits.