Object Details
Manufacturer
North American Bear Company
Summary
Magellan T. Bear, manufactured by the North American Bear Company, became the first official teddy bear in space, flying as the "education specialist" aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-63 mission in February 1995. The bear's journey was part of an ambitious educational project to stimulate interest in geography, science, and social studies. Students and faculty of Elk Creek Elementary School in Pine, Colorado, worked with NASA and Spacehab to have the teddy bear certified for spaceflight. The school also arranged for the bear to fly around the world, visit the South Pole, fly on United Airlines' first Boeing 777 flight, and attend U.S. Space Camp.
Magellan T. Bear was presented to the National Air and Space Museum in May 1998 by librarian Penny Wiedeke and principal Jerry Williams.
Credit Line
Gift of Penny Wiedeke and Jerry Williams. RESTRICTED GIFT; NO TRANSFER OF COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, OR RELATED RIGHTS.
Inventory Number
A19980134000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture
Materials
overall: 100% polyester blue plush fabric with polyester stuffing
eyes and nose: black plastic buttons
Dimensions
3-D (Seated Position): 36.8 × 38.1 × 34.9cm (1 ft. 2 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 3 in. × 1 ft. 1 3/4 in.)
3-D (Flat Position): 40.6 × 21.6 × 57.2cm (1 ft. 4 in. × 8 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 10 1/2 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
Korea
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19980134000
