Teddy bears…in…space!

by Meg on December 11, 2008

According to The Daily Mail Online, the teddeh bears shown below are "the first soft toys to take part in extra-vehicular activity… at such an altitude."

Um, It’s ABOUT TIME!

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Check out Bear Armstrong and Nose Aldrin here.

According to the story: "The teddy bears had to endure temperatures of -53C buthad special spacesuits made by school children from the nearby Parksideand Coleridge community colleges."

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The Ted-astronauts weren’t ALL about fun and games. Scientist Henry Hallam, 21, said: ‘We asked the children to build the space suits for the teddy bears and we monitored the temperatures inside and outside the suits. It was great to involve these young people so they can learn about physics in a different and exciting way."

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This bear threat-down brought to you by Mail Online, sent in by the uber-fabulous Vicki O.

{ 76 comments }

1 Katrina 12.11.08 at 4:51 pm

Hooray for creative science teachers! Hooray for Physics!

2 charliewabba 12.11.08 at 4:53 pm

Teh teddy on the right’s nose looks dangerously exposed.

3 Katiedid 12.11.08 at 4:53 pm

BEARS IN SPACE SPACe SPAce SPace Space space.. (echo :-) )

4 sterling 12.11.08 at 4:55 pm

Awe.
Teddy space ’splorerrrs.

5 ceejoe 12.11.08 at 4:59 pm

omg this is awesome!
those kids are our future…
this is SO cool.
and qte of course!

6 Daytime Deb 12.11.08 at 5:02 pm

OMG Katie that is exactly what I was going to write!

Bears…..in…..Space..ace..ace…ace!

Gotta love the muppets!

7 Daytime Deb 12.11.08 at 5:02 pm

OMG Katie that is exactly what I was going to write!

Bears…..in…..Space..ace..ace…ace!

Gotta love the muppets!

8 Daytime Deb 12.11.08 at 5:04 pm

So sorry about the duplicate post — bad case of itchy post/trigger finger, I guess.

9 Not That Mike The Other Mike 12.11.08 at 5:06 pm

Open the pod bay doors, HAL.

10 Anna in Portland 12.11.08 at 5:10 pm

Children in community college? Do they call grade school college in Britain? Very cute, only to be expected from the homeland of Paddington.

11 Earwig 12.11.08 at 5:10 pm

Ground Control to Major Nom…

[Le snickère. - Ed.]

12 Not That Mike The Other Mike 12.11.08 at 5:16 pm

(files Earwig’s comment for future use)

:-)

13 Hon Glad 12.11.08 at 5:23 pm

Ted on left, doesn’t look too happy. “Tin foil and a lemonade bottle, I was expecting something more high tec.”

14 BeckyMonster 12.11.08 at 5:44 pm

Um, I think it should be “Fuzz” Aldrin… just sayin’

15 Boomer's Babysitter 12.11.08 at 5:49 pm

Oh, Hon Glad, I don’t know, it looks rather like Ted on Left has not only cold insulation, but a space helmet so he can breathe in the altitude. He’s just very serious about his part in the assignment. It’s cute that the bottle makes it look contoured for his ears!

16 Edward 12.11.08 at 5:52 pm

Anna, college in the UK refers to something like high school…the kids would have been from 13 or so up.

Sometimes I love my university so much I could burst. Go light blue!

17 T.U.M.t 12.11.08 at 6:03 pm

Best hovertext ever: “Thanks for the tin foil, kids.”

18 Katrina 12.11.08 at 6:12 pm

Edward-Go light blue? Pleas esplain…kthnksby

19 Edward 12.11.08 at 6:27 pm

Cambridge=light blues
Oxford=dark blues

20 pyrit 12.11.08 at 6:32 pm

First Ted: “Right then, fancy a spot of honey?”
Second Ted: “I would that, ta.”
(…floating, …sharing honey)
First Ted: “I say, are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
Second Ted: “No, I do not see flying hamsters with wings and flying cats on leashes.”
First Ted: “Good man.”

21 Erebella 12.11.08 at 6:35 pm

Major Nom, geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh. That’s actually really funny. That’s one giant leap for bearkind. “Wow, I can see my house from here.” “Crap it’s cold!”

22 Theo 12.11.08 at 6:35 pm

Edward: Nawlins=delta blues ;)

23 PACAT 12.11.08 at 6:36 pm

BEAM ME UP SCOTTIE

24 Theo 12.11.08 at 6:38 pm

Pyrit, I must have had some of that tea too, because I certainly don’t see any of that nonsense either. More, please?

25 Edward 12.11.08 at 6:58 pm

@Theo: We can beat the Delta Blues in rowing, but we’d lose to them in introspective melancholy.

26 Theo 12.11.08 at 7:06 pm

…and SPICINESS. [nom nom pant pant zydeco time woooo!]

27 Theo 12.11.08 at 7:08 pm

(yeah, I’m out of my mind; it’s the tea)

28 pyrit 12.11.08 at 7:08 pm

You’re right Theo, it is MF Brew Time. I’ll put the kettle on.

29 Theo 12.11.08 at 7:09 pm

YAY

30 Katrina 12.11.08 at 7:11 pm

But, light blue? How about “GO Ceruleans, GO!” But as Cambridge was founded in the 13th century, I suppose the tradition has already gelled somewhat.

Beckymonster-yes, it should be. Niiice one. Groaan.

31 Katrina 12.11.08 at 7:13 pm

“Oh, Bother” said Pooh.

32 berthaservant 12.11.08 at 7:15 pm

NTOMTOM — don’t forget the Peter Schilling song “Major Nom” either if you want the slightly more obscure route. (Besides, we all know Major Nom’s a junkie…)

I would also like to point out, that the bears made it back to earth safely!!!!

Just waiting to see what Colbert does with this….

33 Edward 12.11.08 at 7:15 pm

It’s more of a greenish-blue. But we still own the Nobels. And Oxford blue…well, it’s so dark as to cover up the food stains. True fact.

[Well... maybe the dark blue food, anyway. - Ed.]

34 Lesley 12.11.08 at 7:23 pm

Very cute. But I’m gonna give a major shout out to science geek girls!!! Huzzahh!

35 DdlS 12.11.08 at 7:36 pm

Please refrain from posting this stuff,keep the real cuties not stuffed animals and kids stuff. Boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

36 Theo 12.11.08 at 7:39 pm

*pffft*
Talk about your pathetic attempts. (Allow me to nuff your nuff.)

37 Jezebel 12.11.08 at 7:42 pm

Klingons on the starboard bow!

38 Jezebel 12.11.08 at 7:42 pm

Nice nuff nuff.

39 Theo 12.11.08 at 7:47 pm

Was it nuffy enough?

40 (the original) Mel 12.11.08 at 7:53 pm

That’s pretty cool. It’s not as cool as “Pigs In Space,” but it’s still pretty cool.

41 Jezebel 12.11.08 at 7:56 pm

If you’re too nuffy do YOU become the nuffer?

42 Jezebel 12.11.08 at 7:56 pm

Do YOU become the nuffer?

43 Paunchie 12.11.08 at 8:10 pm

That is adorable and heart warming! People who say kid stuff is boring, nertz to you!

44 Annie 12.11.08 at 8:36 pm

Well I was gonna say Beeeeeeeeeeaaaarrrssss in Spaaaccccccccceeeeeeee

but it’s been done.
and so has the major tom comment..I guess I need a spot of that tea pyrit is brewing.

45 Annie 12.11.08 at 8:37 pm

NOt just a nuffer but a stuffy Nuffer.. There can be nothing worse.

46 Elisha B. 12.11.08 at 8:43 pm

Is that last pic real? Looks real but how can those things survive in zero gravity much less the movement through the upper atmosphere. Too cute!!

47 Jezebel 12.11.08 at 8:50 pm

How about a nuffer stuffer?

48 Theo 12.11.08 at 8:51 pm

I’d rather be a puppy huffer.

49 T.U.M.t 12.11.08 at 9:04 pm

I didn’t know NASA stood for Nuffing Airborne Stuffed Animals!

50 Annie 12.11.08 at 9:15 pm

The stuffy Nuffer nuffed his stuff
the nuffer stuffers huffed and puffed
The stuffy Nuffer’s nuff was not nuffy enough.

[this rhyming stuff is getting tough for someone sitting on his duff... - Ed.]

51 Annie 12.11.08 at 9:18 pm

The stuffy Nuffer nuffed his stuff

the nuffer stuffers stuffed his nuff

The the stuffy nuffer’s nuff wasn’t nuffy enuff.

52 Annie 12.11.08 at 9:19 pm

Oops can you delet my double Teho I thought it had an epic computer post fail on the first post

53 Theo 12.11.08 at 9:22 pm

It’s long past time we snuffed this fluff.

54 rachel 12.11.08 at 9:57 pm

Erm, maybe I’m missing something here, but wouldn’t the bears break off/burn up exiting the atmosphere? I call fake.

55 Theo 12.11.08 at 10:02 pm

[SNORK]

56 berthaservant 12.11.08 at 10:03 pm

Sho’ nuff!

57 Theo 12.11.08 at 10:13 pm

[sigh]
Fine, OK, here, lemme save everybody a little time…
http://www.rhymezone.com/r/rhyme.cgi?Word=enough&typeofrhyme=perfect&org1=syl&org2=l

58 pyrit 12.12.08 at 2:48 am

Woooooooooo, Annie!
You Powderpuff Girl! Puffs Plus!

59 whitetigersx 12.12.08 at 3:23 am

rachel, they would only burn up if they reenter quickly. With the balloon attached it’s a much slower descent since there is still some bouyancy lent by the balloon. It’s a weather balloon, they wouldn’t want to lose equipment – that stuff gets expensive, and it might be hard to recover data.

60 AuntieMame 12.12.08 at 3:44 am

@Jezebel: Klingons on the starboard bow!

Scrape them off, Nom!

61 Pauline Laing 12.12.08 at 5:37 am

They’ve got the RIGHT STUFFING!

You have no idea how many years I’ve waited to work that into conversation…

62 Theo 12.12.08 at 5:44 am

LOL! …and nobody else thought of that?? (Like, oh, let’s say, *me*?)

63 Biscuitz4Bearz 12.12.08 at 1:52 pm

LMAO @ “Nose Aldrin.” Lurve it.

64 pups'nstuff 12.12.08 at 2:24 pm

SO uncute.

65 Theo 12.12.08 at 5:57 pm

Actually it’s one of the best ideas — and, therefore, posts — ever. That’s not even an opinion. So NYAHHHH.

(No, really, this is awesome. I want to do this with our kids now.)

66 binky-mama 12.12.08 at 9:05 pm

Theo I do hope you mean your kids teddy bears? Do I need to call CPS to stop you from wrapping your kids in tin foil and shooting them into space? :P
Seriously this is such a great idea…education, cuteness and space…awesome!

67 grrr 12.12.08 at 9:08 pm

Once agian proof that Theo shouldn’t be here.

68 Annie 12.12.08 at 9:11 pm

Oh My kids and Girl scout troops would have loved doing this.. IT is very awesome…

Heck I would love doing this…

Any one ever done the denture tablets in water in a film container. They shoot up bout 30 ft or so in the air.
IT is a great ativity in the afternoon while every one is waiting for the real fire works.

69 Annie 12.12.08 at 9:13 pm

Oh opps I forgot to add for the 4th of July to that

70 Theo 12.13.08 at 12:35 am

Binky-Mama, while I’m flattered that you think I’ve got the engi-nerd chops to rig an upper-stratosphere vehicle for two teenagers, I was actually thinking more along the lines of some of their old Beanie Babies.

71 Lil Bill the clown 12.13.08 at 1:00 am

2 cool. way to go kids.

72 Lil Bill the clown 12.13.08 at 1:24 am

Again I enjoyed this blog. How cool were the pics. You kids rock!

73 cachorro 12.13.08 at 2:11 am

I believe.

74 tgoody25 12.13.08 at 2:13 pm

I just love this site. This entire post with all the comments made me laugh.
- Theo, you are too funny :-)
-Annie, I can’t wait to try out the the denture tablets in water in a film container. I won’t be able to wait until the 4th of July. I don’t even care how frigid it is outside here in Iowa where I live, I will be buying denture tablets today!!!

75 tgoody25 12.13.08 at 2:18 pm

Forgot to mention that I don’t think I’ll attempt the denture tablet residue on my living room ceiling!

76 Theo 12.14.08 at 10:29 am

There’s always the regular Mentos-in-Diet-Coke trick. Classic.
http://www.eepybird.com/dcm1.html

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