Buzz Lightyear used celebrity to go to space?
Monday, September 7th, 2009
Buzz Lightyear at home in Florida before his Space Shuttle Discovery ride to the International Space Station. (photo courtesy of pdphoto.org)
In this day and age where having celebrity can get you some perks and once-in-a-life time opportunities, Buzz Lightyear, star of the Toy Story movie and television franchise, may have used his influence to snag a ride on the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station for a six-month stay.
It has been publicly announced this is part of an educational campaign for children to excite them about science. While in orbit, they performed zero gravity experiments with Mr. Lightyear.
However, it is well-known Mr. Lightyear has had an almost obsessive preoccupation with proving he is a “real” space ranger and more than just a mere toy to a doubting public. His qualifications to perform scientific experiments have been questioned. He underwent nontraditional mission training, and many question whether he passed the tests in this training video.
In the first Toy Story movie, co-star Woody says to Buzz, “You are a toy! You aren’t the real Buzz Lightyear! You’re – you’re an action figure!” A source, who wishes to remain anonymous, says Mr. Lightyear resented these scenes and had been overheard on multiple occasions saying it was ironic that the real Buzz Lightyear was playing someone pretending to be Buzz Lightyear.
It is also rumored he fought to have his name in the closing credits listed as “The Real Buzz Lightyear.”
In spite of his claims of being a real astronaut and space ranger, Mr. Lightyear has yet to produce evidence to support this. Our calls to Star Command and the Intergalactic Alliance in the Gamma Quadrant of sector 4 have yet to be returned.
In November 2008, Mr. Lightyear was asked to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. When asked why he didn’t fly on his own since he was supposedly a real space man, he replied, “I’m trying to set an example by reducing my carbon footprint.” This coming from someone who insists on new, non-rechargeable, battery replacements weekly for his non-necessity laser and lights and whose residences can be described more as full-fledged theme parks than homes.
Mr. Lightyear has also caused controversy with his classic phrase, “To infinity and beyond.” Mathematical theorists are up in arms because going beyond infinity is not possible, and although this is just “showbiz” if he were a real space ranger he should have (out of principle) fought to have the phrase reduced to “To infinity.”
One of Mr. Lightyear’s residences (Disney World in Florida) neighbors NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and their relationship has been said to be close.
It should be noted at the time of blast-off a new Toy Story Mania ride had just opened in Disney World. Ads announcing the mission were more “Hollywood” than educational. The Space Shuttle Discovery will depart from the space station Tuesday and Mr. Lightyear will return home in the midst of a publicity blitz for the release of Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3D. Toy Story 3 is scheduled to be released next year.
Remarkable timing. Coincidence? Just how much influence has Mr. Lightyear had on the mission?
Despite his suspected lack of qualifications previous to the mission, Mr. Lightyear can now rightfully claim that he is, in fact, a space man.
Click here to see Mr. Lightyear floating around the space station.
This video shows Mr.Lightyear and Astronaut Greg Chamitoff announcing the opening of the Toy Story Mania ride from the space station.
Click here for more information on Mr. Lightyear’s relationship with NASA.
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