Space shuttle will carry two Ohio State graduates and flag

The Ohio State University will be well represented when the space shuttle Columbia begins a 12-day voyage later this month. Two Ohio State graduates are among the seven astronauts who will fly into space to install new equipment on the Hubble telescope. And one will be carrying Ohio State’s ROTC Battalion flag into space

Lt. Col. Nancy Currie, an OSU Army ROTC alumna, earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences at Ohio State in 1980. She will be taking along the OSU Army ROTC “colors,” a 3'x 5' Buckeye Battalion flag. Currie, who is making her fourth shuttle flight, has also invited four OSU Army ROTC cadets to the Kennedy Space Center to view the launch.

Accompanied by Col. Jack Gumbert, OSU Army ROTC, the four students will also meet astronauts and attend the Currie family launch reception.

Richard Linnehan, who earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Ohio State in 1985, is a mission specialist. Linnehan is making his third shuttle flight and operating on an exotic patient – the Hubble telescope.

A NASA website offers information on the Hubble Servicing Mission at

http://sm3b.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission-critical/shuttle-crew.html

WHAT: Two Ohio State graduates and OSU “colors ” will be aboard space shuttle. Four students will travel to Florida to view launch.

WHEN: Army ROTC cadets leave Columbus on Wednesday (2/27) to view launch at 6:48
a.m. Thursday (2/28)

WHERE: Kennedy Space Center

WHY: Ohio State University plays an important role in the space program.