Lowell Deeds

Sometimes I think it’s me…maybe I just don’t get it. I read this one in USA Today this morning. NASA has agreed to take Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber along on the next space shuttle mission. Apparently, this year is the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie Star Wars . “What better way to celebrate the 30th anniversary than to send the original lightsaber into space with the shuttle” said Julie Kuenstle, Space Center Huston spokesperson. Hey Julie, are you kidding? It’s a movie. Maybe I’m stupid, but I thought the lightsabers in “the movie” were really just special effects equipment invented by George Lucas. I wonder…is someone playing a joke on NASA? According to Johnson Space Center officials the “saber” will remain in storage throughout the entire mission…Oh no! Are you kidding? What will our astronauts do if they encounter someone from the “Evil Empire”? (no, not the Yankees).