June 8, 2010 | Peter Morenus

Space Odyssey

Astronaut Richard Mastracchio '82 ENG, left, stands with a group holding a UConn-themed pennant he recently took to the International Space Station on the shuttle Discovery. Photo by Peter Morenus

<p>Astronaut Richard Mastracchio '82, left, holds a flag he recently took to space with, from left, Suman Singha, Andrea Dennis LaVigne, Dean Mun Choi, Christoper LaRosa, and the student who designed the flag, at an event during Alumni Weekend. Photo by Peter Morenus</p>
Astronaut Richard Mastracchio '82, left, holds a UConn-themed pennant he recently took to the International Space Station on the shuttle Discovery. Also shown are, from left, Suman Singha, vice president for research, trustee Andrea Dennis LaVigne, engineering dean Mun Choi, Christopher LaRosa of the School of Engineering, and recent engineering graduate Rockwell Schrock, who designed the pennant. Mastracchio spoke about his experiences in space at an event during Alumni Weekend, June 4-6. Photo by Peter Morenus
<p>Astronaut Richard Mastracchio '82, left, holds a flag he recently took to space with football players, Dean Mun Choi, Christoper LaRosa of the School of Engineering, and Athletics Director Jeffrey Hathaway during an event at the Student Union Theater. Photo by Peter Morenus</p>
Mastracchio also took a pennant honoring slain football player Jasper Howard into space. Here he is shown holding the pennant with football players from left Scott Lutrus, Meme Wylie, and Anthony Sherman, and athletics director Jeffrey Hathaway. In the back row are engineering dean Mun Choi, and Christopher LaRosa. Photo by Peter Morenus