Over the weekend a US flight engineer and astronaut, Kjell Lindgren, played bagpipes aboard the International Space Station paying tribute to research scientist Dr. Hurt. Playing the traditional tune Amazing Grace in zero gravity, it was a first for bagpipes to be played in outer space. According to the BBC news Mr. Lindgren contacted pipe maker McCallum over two years ago. McCallum spokesman Kenny Macleod stated that the set taken aboard the 45th expedition to the space station were a set of the plastic pipes saying, "They're made of plastic - they're just easier to keep clean and to make sure they're not contaminated. They're also lighter." Honoring Dr. Hurst with the pipes was preceded with a short video message.
Dr. Hurst worked for US engineering company Wyle Science as a research scientist and instructor. He died suddenly in October, aged 48. Mr Lindgren said of Hurst: "He always had a quick smile, a kind word. I don't know if anyone was more enthusiastic and professional about being involved in human space flight."
Here is a link on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DWzmq9e0Lw
McCallum spokesman Macleod also stated (after seeing Mr. Lindgren play), "The thing about bagpipes is that they're very difficult to play at high altitude because the air is that bit thinner. They're quite hard to blow so he's done well,"
To paraphrase the tag line from the movie Alien, “In space, no one can hear to pipe.”
Or can they?
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