When we were planning for the Future Vessel in the Stockholm Globe Arena, 1998, we asked children what guest of honour they wanted to be present. A little boy said, “I want an astronaut, because they have seen everything!”

We started the search with a question-Which astronaut in the world is great with meeting children? We learnt that Professor Loren Acton at Montana State University was experienced in talking with children. We wrote him an e-mail and asked if he wanted to be the children’s guest of honour. He immediately responded, “I am honoured to be invited”. Loren Acton then spoke at the annual convention of astronauts and cosmonauts about his plans to attend the Future Vessel, and soon we had ten other astronauts and cosmonauts ready to join him!

Astronaut Jon McBride, the President of the astronauts’ organization, the Association of Space Explorers, met with Globetree to have a look at our program. He told us that the crew that comes back from space hands over a key to the crew that are next to travel into space. It was agreed that the invited astronauts and cosmonauts would award a Golden Key during the Grand Finale of the Future Vessel, to the president or representative of each participating municipality, in recognition of the commitment they made to the children.

ASE-medallion to Globetree

Association of Space Explorers President of the USA, astronaut Jon McBride, and the President of Russia’s association, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, awards the ASE-medallion to the President of Globetree, Kajsa Dahlström, at the Future Vessel, 1998.