A historic first: the Pope calls the International Space Station

Space · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Witness a landmark moment in space diplomacy as Pope Benedict XVI connects with the crew of the International Space Station, marking the first time a pontiff has phoned explorers in orbit.

This NASA update covers a series of significant milestones, headlined by the unprecedented communication between Pope Benedict XVI and the STS-134 and Expedition 27 crews. Beyond this historic call, the footage highlights the return of astronauts Cady, Paolo, and Dmitry, as well as the flying of an Honor Flag on the Atlantis shuttle.

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