NASA Space shuttle pilot Ken Ham will be taking ESPN with him as part of his personal belongings when his flight launches into space May 31. Ham, piloting the crew of STS-124 whose mission to the International Space Station is the second of three flights that will launch components to complete the Japanese “Kibo” laboratory, is a big sports fan.
Each astronaut is allowed to bring personal belongings that represent them, and he reached out to ESPN and ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning for articles that would fit NASA’s restrictions. ESPN provided Ham a mic flag (from the set of Mike and Mike, and hollowed out to make it lighter), stickers, and two CDs (Best of Mike and Mike, with a personal introduction from co-host Mike Greenberg, and Best of SportsCenter).
On earth, where ESPN is already on all seven continents and in 194 countries, Greenberg and Mike & Mike co-host Mike Golic will interview Ham during the show (6-10 a.m. ET M-F) while he is in space.
Additionally, Golic and Greenberg will get the opportunity to actually taste food that Ham will eat in-flight when NASA representatives bring space staples like fiesta chicken, tomato basil soup, shrimp cocktail, Mexican scrambled eggs and candy-coated almonds to Mike & Mike’s Bristol, CT. studio.
