Space shuttle statue auction to benefit scholarship fund

Space shuttle statue auction to benefit scholarship fund

Hand-painted statues of space shuttles are set to go to auction today to honor the 50th anniversary of the first space shuttle and to fund the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's (ASF) award program.

The statues, which were hand-painted by members of the Florida Space Coast community, measure eight feet in height and feature pop-art, animal and celestial designs and are autographed by astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell.

Robert Crippen, an astronaut who flew on the first space shuttle mission in 1981, explained that the statues were built to remind the public of "our icon, the country's icon" while commemorating the invention of the space shuttle.

The ASF will use proceeds from the auction to reward exceptional students of science and technology with scholarships to fund higher education, which may include enrollment in online courses. The scholarship program has given $2.8 million to extraordinary college students to date to support the ASF's mission to maintain the U.S.'s position as a global leader in science and technology.

Those wishing to pursue careers in science or technology may consider enrolling in online degree programs to continue their education without disrupting their current schedule.