Object Details
- Astronaut
- Joseph M. Acaba
- Manufacturer
- Kids Preferred Inc.
- Summary
- This Smokey Bear plush toy was taken to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft by Joe Acaba, a NASA astronaut and member of Expeditions 31 and 32. It belonged to Jeffrey Miller, a United States Forest Service professional, and Acaba’s friend since they served together in the Dominican Republic as volunteers in the United States Peace Corps beginning in 1994.
- Aboard the Soyuz, this Smokey Bear toy acted as both a flight mascot and light-hearted zero-gravity indicator, keeping with a Russian tradition of having one space traveler bring a personal talisman aboard the Soyuz (when the object floated, they were in space). The toy spent 123 days aboard the station before returning with Acaba in September 2012.
- Smokey Bear is the national symbol of wildfire prevention, and the toy's presence on board the ISS highlighted a partnership between NASA and the United States Forest Service to promote environmental education and outreach.
- Jeff Miller gave the Smokey Bear plush toy to the National Air and Space Museum in June 2013.
- Credit Line
- Gift of Jeff Miller and Joe Acaba, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.
- Inventory Number
- A20130181000
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- MEMORABILIA
- Materials
- cotton, felt, plastic, polyester fiber, vinyl
- Dimensions
- 3-D: 13 × 7 × 17.5cm (5 1/8 × 2 3/4 × 6 7/8 in.)
- Country of Origin
- Peoples Republic of China
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- National Air and Space Museum
- Record ID
- nasm_A20130181000
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv94421d947-27fd-4833-b230-47e56ae2ef69
