Space technology and pioneering aviation history met on July 4, 2011 when four astronauts from the crew of the space shuttle Discovery flight STS-133 were guests of honour at the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the centenary of the first powered flight from Manx soil that took off from Noble’s Park, Douglas. The event, facilitated by Douglas Borough Council, was hosted by His Worship the Mayor of Douglas Councillor Ritchie McNicholl JP and took place in Noble’s Park close to the site from where aviator Claude Graham-White in his Farman biplane piloted the historic flight on July 4, 1911 as part of the jubilee celebrations of the then Douglas Corporation. Funded by the North American Manx Society the plaque features images of Graham-White’s biplane and the space shuttle Discovery and includes in the inscription the words: ‘On the 4th July 1911 the first powered and passenger flights on the Isle of Man were made near this spot by Claude Graham-White (1879-1959), in his Farman biplane, at an event organised by Douglas Corporation. ‘On the 4th July 2011 the crew of flight STS-133 of the NASA Space Shuttle ”Discovery”, as guests of Tynwald, unveiled this plaque to celebrate the first centenary of aerospace achievement on the Island.’ In his welcome address His Worship said: ‘Who could have imagined that in that primitive form of flight [the people of Douglas] were witnessing one of the forerunners of the technological advancements that have taken us to the point where we can welcome to Douglas the very people who have flown in space.’ He went on to say that in the decades following that early flight ‘the Isle of Man has now become one of the most progressive jurisdictions in relation to space commerce and is home to a significant number of aerospace companies. This visit by NASA astronauts from the final flight of the shuttle Discovery will lend that sector of our economy a great deal of credibility and enhance its status.’ In closing, the Mayor extended his thanks not only to the crew for taking time out of their busy schedule and the North American Manx Society for their support, but also to the Manx Aviation Preservation Society for their interest and research and the Isle of Man Government for promoting the crew’s visit. In his reply, Discovery pilot Colonel Eric Boe spoke of the honour he and the crew felt at being invited to the event and how, in their view, space travel was ‘the ultimate push’ and he praised the Island for taking such an active role in supporting the space industry. ENDS