Astronaut Gives Flag Flown in Space to the
National 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Chief of Department Edward Kilduff thanks Astronaut Mike Massimino at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum as he stands with Museum Director Alice Greenwald.

When packing items for a Hubble Space Telescope service mission on the Shuttle Atlantis in May 2009, NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino said he carefully considered the items he would take with him.

Since room was limited, he said, “We wanted to bring things for groups that have meaning to us.”

He remembered that when he suggested he and his six crewmates bring an American flag on behalf of the men and women who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, he got a resounding “yes.”

So on Jan. 28, the 24th anniversary of the Shuttle Challenger disaster, he presented the flag to the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan.

“We deeply appreciate what Mike did and it will hold a very special place in our hearts,” said Chief of Department Edward Kilduff. “We will certainly treasure this flag.”

Chief of Department Edward Kilduff and Astronaut Mike Massimino in front of the flag that was flown in space in honor of all those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

Dr. Massimino’s father was a chief inspector for the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Prevention. Chief Kilduff read a tribute message from one of his father’s former coworkers during the ceremony.

The astronaut added that he went on his first mission to space just months after 9/11 and his crew brought with them patches, flags and a poster honoring the 343 members of the FDNY lost in the tragedy.

“Mike represents the best of who we are in this country,” said Joe Daniels, President of the 9/11 Memorial.

The Museum Director, Alice Greenwald, added, “This flag underscores the notion that there are many ways we can remember those who were lost.”

The flag has orbited the earth 197 times, traveled 5.276 million miles and spent 571 hours in space. It is now on temporary display at the 9/11 Memorial Preview Site.

“We will never forget the heroic acts of Sept. 11 and its aftermath,” he said.