Astronaut to Present Card Flown in Space
Memphis, TN, March 08, 2009 --(PR.com)-- NASA Astronaut, Gregory Johnson, former Pilot of STS-123 Endeavour (March 11-26, 2008) will be attending the upcoming 2009 Spring North American Bridge Championships (NABC) in Houston,, former Pilot of STS-123 Endeavour (March 11-26, 2008) will be attending the upcoming 2009 Spring North American Bridge Championships (NABC) in Houston, Texas and plans to present to the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) an official ACBL Ace of Spades that accompanied him on the STS-123 space flight last year. The STS-123 orbited the earth 250 times, traveling 6.6 million miles in 15 days and 18 hours.
According to Johnson, each astronaut is allowed to fly up to ten items honoring organizations of their choosing. These items are collected, vacuum packed, and documented on the official Space Shuttle manifest. Johnson stated that he flew the ace of spades (from an official ACBL deck of cards) to honor the ACBL and his love of bridge.
Johnson, raised in a bridge playing family, has enjoyed playing the game of bridge for over 30 years and states he truly loves the game and cherishes memories of his parents and grandparents playing rubber bridge late into the night. Johnson began playing duplicate bridge as a new Air Force pilot in 1988 and became a Life Master in 2002, the title regarded as a symbol of expertise by the ACBL.
The ACBL, founded in 1937, is the world’s largest bridge organization with 160,000 members who play in 3,200 bridge clubs and 1,100 tournaments throughout North America. The Spring 2009 NABC to be held in Houston, Texas between March 12-22, 2009, is one of three North American tournaments held annually by the ACBL.
Johnson states, “It is an interesting coincidence that the 2009 Houston NABC spans the same days, one year later, of my space flight last year. I am honored to be able to present the card to the ACBL during the first weekend of the tournament.”
Johnson will present the Ace of Spades card to Jay Baum, CEO of the ACBL, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 13th, at the Hilton-Americas Houston, in Houston, Texas, site of the 2009 Spring NABC.
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According to Johnson, each astronaut is allowed to fly up to ten items honoring organizations of their choosing. These items are collected, vacuum packed, and documented on the official Space Shuttle manifest. Johnson stated that he flew the ace of spades (from an official ACBL deck of cards) to honor the ACBL and his love of bridge.
Johnson, raised in a bridge playing family, has enjoyed playing the game of bridge for over 30 years and states he truly loves the game and cherishes memories of his parents and grandparents playing rubber bridge late into the night. Johnson began playing duplicate bridge as a new Air Force pilot in 1988 and became a Life Master in 2002, the title regarded as a symbol of expertise by the ACBL.
The ACBL, founded in 1937, is the world’s largest bridge organization with 160,000 members who play in 3,200 bridge clubs and 1,100 tournaments throughout North America. The Spring 2009 NABC to be held in Houston, Texas between March 12-22, 2009, is one of three North American tournaments held annually by the ACBL.
Johnson states, “It is an interesting coincidence that the 2009 Houston NABC spans the same days, one year later, of my space flight last year. I am honored to be able to present the card to the ACBL during the first weekend of the tournament.”
Johnson will present the Ace of Spades card to Jay Baum, CEO of the ACBL, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 13th, at the Hilton-Americas Houston, in Houston, Texas, site of the 2009 Spring NABC.
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Contact
American Contract Bridge League
Vicki Campbell
901-332-5586, Ext. 1334
www.acbl.org
Vicki Campbell
901-332-5586, Ext. 1334
www.acbl.org
Contact
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