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This lapel pin representing the official logo of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), a division of the AFL-CIO, is a souvenir acquired on Magellan T. Bear's around-the-world flight in 1993. The teddy bear flew around the world and made other journeys as part of an ambitious elementary school educational project to stimulate interest in geography, science, and social studies.

Magellan T. Bear became the first official teddy bear in space, flying as the "education specialist" aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-63 mission in February 1995. Students and faculty of Elk Creek Elementary School in Pine, Colorado, worked with NASA and Spacehab to have the teddy bear certified for spaceflight. The school also arranged for the bear to fly around the world, visit the South Pole, fly on United Airlines' first Boeing 777 flight, and attend U.S. Space Camp.

Magellan T. Bear was presented to the National Air and Space Museum in May 1998 by librarian Penny Wiedeke and principal Jerry Williams.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type MEMORABILIA-Miscellaneous Dimensions 3-D: 1.6 × 1.3 × 1.7cm (5/8 × 1/2 × 11/16 in.)
Storage: 2.5 × 2.5 × 3.2cm (1 in. × 1 in. × 1 1/4 in.)
 Materials Gold Alloy
Copper Alloy
Paint
 Inventory Number A19980135008 Credit Line Gift of Penny Wiedeke and Jerry Williams. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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