NASA astronaut hopes to stage ‘out of this world’ concert

LONDON - A NASA astronaut is hoping to stage a concert that is literally out of this world, and plans on doing it with the help of Irish band The Chieftains and British band Jethro Tull.

Astronaut Catherine Coleman said she prefers to create music with other people, but unfortunately she is the only flautist among the six aboard the International Space Station.

Coleman, who said she enjoyed creating her “own little world” with music, has now decided to put flute music on in the background, and play along before she returns to Earth in May.

She blasted off Kazakhstan in December for a six-month period orbiting the earth, and she took along a priceless Irish concert flute, given to her by a man who is considered to be a star himself by traditional music lovers.

Chieftains’ flute-player Matt Molloy met the NASA astronaut, nicknamed Cady, more than 10 years ago after playing at a concert in Houston, Texas, and after the gig, they took part as usual in a session with local musicians.

“It transpired that Cady played the flute, and we have been friends ever since,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

Molloy gave her one of his most prized possessions, his E-flat flute to be used for her space concert. (ANI)