Legos In Space!!!!!!

I don't know how closely you've been following the space program but in the past few months we've received photos of Pluto and just the other day, NASA got a space craft to Jupiter!

I got a new app that gives me news on space and astronomy and it had a cute article with interesting details of the spacecraft that is now orbiting Jupiter.  There are three Lego people on the flight to celebrate the mythology and science of the planet.

These are not your everyday Lego figures they are special in more than one way.

First, these ones have been constructed out of a special space grade aluminum so they fit in the ship just like any instrument. They are together with a plaque provided by Italy.  So who do these figures represent?

One represents Jupiter who the planet was named after.  Jupiter was reputed to be able to draw the clouds around him to hide his misdeeds.  He is the Roman equivalent to Zeus and his figure carries a thunder bolt.  The second figure is Juno, his wife, who could look through the clouds to reveal Jupiter's true nature so her character has a magnifying glass.  The spacecraft Juno will be peering below the clouds to see Jupiter's geologic structure and history.  The last figure is Galileo because he is the one who discovered four of Jupiter's moon using his telescope.  His character has a telescope in honor of his discoveries.

It is obvious that there was thought put into choosing the figures.  There is also a very small 2.8 by 2 inch plaque on the propulsion pay to celebrate Galileo by having his picture and a quote of his observations of Jupiter.

The plaque is made of special grade aluminum and its bonded to the spacecraft with a space grade glue.  What is most fascinating about the quote is that it is in Galileo's own hand and was sent from Italy to commemorate his contributions.

By the way, this is not the first trip Lego has send figures aboard.  They have already been on the space shuttle, visited the space station, and been to Mars, so these toys are well traveled.