This Colorado state flag lapel pin signifies the home of Magellan T. Bear and Elk Creek Elementary School in Pine, Colorado. 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. Besides being from Colorado, Magellan T. Bear was, in March 1994, named Colorado's official "Ambassador for Friendship" by Governor Roy Romer.
The bear's journey was part of an ambitious educational project to stimulate interest in geography, science, and social studies. 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.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.