A PIECE of Tynwald Hill - the ceremonial home of the Isle of Man's parliament – which had been in space onboard the space shuttle Discovery began its descent back to Earth in March.
It was given to astronaut Nicole Stott to carry aboard the space shuttle Discovery which left on its mission in February and undocked from the International Space Station to return to Earth on March 9.
Nicole is married to Manxman Chris Stott who is the Isle of Man Government's honorary representative to the space community.
There were other links to the Isle of Man during the mission - Oh What A Beautiful Morning performed by Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam was played for Nicole last week.
Davy, who now lives in America, grew up in Port St Mary and Nicole is a big fan of the blues rock guitarist and singer, taking his music into space on a previous mission in 2009.
On that occasion he also performed a song for Nicole from NASA's mission control centre in Houston, Texas, while she was at the international space station.
In 2009 Nicole also spoke live with some of the Isle of Man's students via video from space - a first for the British Isles.
Given her great love and passion for the Isle of Man on this, her second mission to space, Nicole wished to fly something of great meaning to the Manx people.
The idea to take a piece of Tynwald Hill came from a Manx woman - Julia Cregeen.
Given that Tynwald Hill is composed of soil from each of the 17 parishes in the Isle of Man this one piece represents the entire Island.
Given its national and historic importance, special permission to take a piece of Tynwald Hill was granted by the then Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK, working with the then President of Tynwald Noel Cringle.
Mr Cringle said: "Only a few short years ago it would have been inconceivable to consider a linkage to space travel and the Isle of Man.
"Nicole is a marvellous ambassador for our Island and it is with wonderment and pride that I recognise she has at her feet in space a unique piece of our Island's history."
The then Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK said: "It is wonderful to think that part of Tynwald Hill, symbolising the national identity of the Isle of Man and our proud heritage of independent democracy, has gone on a journey into outer space.
"This is a great idea which highlights the Island's contribution to the space industry and its unique combination of historic tradition and modern innovation."
Update: Nicole and her fellow astronauts visited the Isle of Man in July to return the Earth. For more on this click here.
This story is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.
