U.S. Astronaut Awarded by the Czech Academy of Sciences

August 2, 2011

Andrew Feustel receives a medal at the Czech Academy of Sciences.

On August 1st, 2011, the Czech Academy of Sciences awarded the U.S. astronaut Andrew Feustel, who is currently visiting the Czech Republic, a medal for his contribution to science, education and culture and promotion of humanitarian ideas. The medal has been previously given to two other U.S. astronauts with Czech roots, John Blaha and Eugene Cernan.

During his two-week visit to the Czech Republic, astronaut Andrew Feustel will hold lectures in seven cities in both Bohemia and Moravia. He will also visit museums and astronomical observatories.

The astronaut will co-chair a new program: "The Junior Ambassadors of Science and Technology" (JAST) which brings together the U.S. Embassy in Prague and Czech Academy of Sciences that promotes young talented scientists.

Andrew Feustel was a crew member of two space shuttle missions.  His wife Indira is of  Czech descent and therefore Feustel decided to take a piece of the Czech Republic into the space with him.  In 2009, he carried the book Cosmic Songs by Jan Neruda and a Czech flag; in his second flight this May he was accompanied by famous Czech cartoon character Krtecek the Little Mole by artist Zdenek Miler.