More prayer in space

Following our post on the rules for Muslims in  orbit,  we are reminded that it is far from being the first time that religious  observance has gone into space.

It is reported that during the first moon landings, where Neil Armsrong said "The Eagle has landed",  Buzz Aldrin said "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way".

He then took Communion privately. It was controversial: NASA was still fighting a lawsuit brought by an atheist who objected to astronauts quoting Genesis and demanded they refrain from any religious activity in space. Aldrin kept his action quiet for several years. But the fact seems to be that the first food eaten on the Moon was that communion wafer..

Meanwhile President Nixon had ready-written speeches in case of disaster, which seem to have been very carefully non-religious while using lofty language - the men would "have followed a star, in night of space, and we for whom they went will not forget."