NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson Perform First Space-Earth Flute Duet

April 11, 2011

Stephanie Schierholz
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
stephanie.schierholz@nasa.gov

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 11-108

NASA ASTRONAUT CADY COLEMAN, JETHRO TULL'S IAN ANDERSON PERFORM FIRST SPACE-EARTH FLUTE DUET

WASHINGTON -- Harmony reached new heights recently as NASA astronaut
Cady Coleman, circling Earth aboard the International Space Station,
and musician Ian Anderson, founder of the rock band Jethro Tull,
collaborated for the first space-Earth duet.

Coleman, an amateur flutist, and Anderson played a portion of the song
"Bourree," an arrangement of which Anderson and Jethro Tull performed
during their 1969 U.S. tour as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped
on the moon. Coleman played her part from 220 miles above Earth late
last week. Anderson played his part while on tour in Perm, Russia,
during the weekend. The two parts were then joined.
Video from the performance is on NASA's website at:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=79119001

Coleman and Anderson's performance saluted 50 years of human
spaceflight and the anniversary of the first launch of a human to
space. Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed that milestone on April 12,
1961.

"Thanks Col. Catherine Coleman in the International Space Station,"
Anderson said following the performance. "We should remember that
today's cosmonauts, scientists and astronauts are still every bit the
rocket heroes they were 50 years ago."

Coleman is an avid fan of Anderson's and carried one of his flutes
with her for a six-month stay aboard the station, along with her own
instrument. She also carried a penny whistle and Irish flute from
members of the musical group The Chieftans.

"It is really different to play up here," Coleman said earlier during
her stay on the station. "I've been having the nicest time up in our
cupola. I float around in there. A lot of the times I play with my
eyes closed."

The video also is available on NASA Television. For NASA TV streaming
video, schedule and downlink info, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the flutes Coleman has aboard the station,
visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/Cady_Coleman_Flute

To view an image gallery from Gagarin's historic flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/gagarin/gagarin.html

NASA's interactive feature commemorating the 30th anniversary of the
space shuttle's first flight, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/the_shuttle

To learn more about the International Space Station, visit

http://www.nasa.gov/station

-end-

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