NEWS RELEASES
Legendary Lewis and Clark Pup Honored In Space
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through NPS's website.
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Trails System, the National Park Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will send a small, plush toy version of Seaman, the legendary dog that explored the frontier with Lewis and Clark, on a new mission aboard the International Space Station. “Two hundred years ago, this dog provided valuable assistance to his human companions as they forged through the wilderness, exploring a new frontier,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel . The toy dog will spend the next several months orbiting the Earth and connecting people to technology and exploration through his adventures. While there, he and his astronaut companions will survey and photograph sections of the 3,700-mile long Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
According to the press release, "Seaman has been remembered to travel thousands of miles on the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06, and was known as the greatest traveler of his species at the time." Therefore June 29, his replica was launched into space aboard a resupply mission to the International Space Station for a new journey of millions of miles. NASA and the National Park Service have coordinated through the years on many science and technology-related projects and events, including astronaut training in parks, the Earth to Sky partnership, and last year’s total solar eclipse activities in national parks. The pup in space will help mark the 60th anniversary of NASA and the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System.
Those who would like to track his travels on the space station can visit NASA’s Spot the Station website.