Live In Orbit: Crew Chats With Obama's School

Discovery's astronauts placed a long-distance space-to-ground call today to the prestigious high school President Obama graduated from in 1979, and they also honored a family that's been sending roses to NASA's Mission Control Center during every shuttle flight since the 1986 Challenger accident.

The aloha to Punahou School in Honolulu was special to Discovery mission specialist Joe Acaba. The former Melbourne High School science teacher was a keynote speaker at the school's annual Lacy Veach Day three years ago.

Former astronaut Charles Lacy Veach, who flew on STS-39 in 1991 and STS-52 in 1992, was a 1962 graduate of Punahou School. He died of cancer in Houston on Oct. 3, 1995.

The astronauts also took time out of their day to honor the Shelton Dallas, Texas: Mark, Terry and their daughter MacKenzie. The Sheltons have sent a bouquet of rises to NASA's Mission Control Center for every shuttle mission since the Challenger accident.

That's 100 bouquets of roses for 100 missions over the past 21 years since the September 1988 launch of STS-26, NASA's first post-Challenger mission.

NASA hosted the Shelton's in the Shuttle Flight Control Room at Mission Control, and the Discovery crew called down to greet them.

Shuttle skipper Lee Archambault noted that the bouquets "show up every mission without fail."

"We really appreciate that. It's a special time to see those roses and we know that it gives not only the crews and flight directors and their teams much support," he said. "We appreciate the support you've shown for our mission in particular. It's the 100th mission since you started that and it's very special to us."

ABOUT THE IMAGES: Click to enlarge the image at top. It's the Shelton family talking with the crew of Discovery. And the second shot shows a plaque they received from NASA.