U.S. Space Mission with Czech Little Mole

March 22, 2011

Ambassador Eisen greets with Krtek (Little Mole) at the press conference about mission STS-134

Andrew Feustel with his wife Indira and sons Ari and Adel - and Krtek (Little Mole)

U.S. astronaut Andrew Feustel chose famous Czech character Krtek (Little Mole) created by the legendary Czech illustrator and animator Zdeněk Miler to accompany him on his next mission to space. Andrew Feustel, who brought Czech poet Jan Neruda's Cosmic Verses into space in 2009, will now take plush Krtek into his personal luggage on-board space shuttle Endeavour for mission STS-134 with planned blast-off in April 2011. 

On this occasion, the American Center of the U.S. Embassy Prague prepared a series of programs for schools as well as general public on space exploration and the U.S. space shuttle flights. For more information, check our special Facebook page.

Czech ‘Walt Disney’ Zdeněk Miler, who incidentally turned 90 this February, created Little Mole 55 years ago and used him in almost 50 cartoons. This fair, friendly, sensitive and helpful character quickly won enormous popularity in many countries in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe, Germany, France, Austria as well as in Russia, Japan and China.

Andrew Feustel's Greeting

Ahoj a dobrý den!

I am Drew Feustel, NASA astronaut and mission specialist on space shuttle mission STS-134 launching April 19 to the International Space Station. I am pleased to have this opportunity to address our family, friends, and supporters in the Czech Republic. As many of you know, I have close family ties in Znojmo, Brno, Prague and Plzeň and I have always cherished my visits to the Czech Republic with my wife and children.

In recognition of your nation’s interest and support of human space flight, I am pleased to announce that when I launch on space shuttle Endeavour in April, a famous character that has been part of Czech culture for over 60 years will be launching to space with me. That character is Krtek.

Just as Krtek has been linked to the Czech Republic for so many decades, so has human space flight through the great pioneers Vladimir Remek, Jim Lovell, Gene Cernan and John Blaha. Once as Krtek reaches orbit, he will join the ranks of these space travelers.

It is our hope that with Krtek’s help, our mission will inspire students and adults to excel in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that will be essential to future space exploration and beneficial to humankind.

We look forward to sharing this great experience with those who will be able to follow the mission, as we install the alpha-magnetic spectrometer, deliver supplies and perform repairs and maintenance on the International Space Station and safely return space shuttle Endeavour back to Earth on her final voyage.

Čau!