MSNBC 5/16/2012
Excerpt:  “When a former American schoolteacher, a veteran Russian space station commander, and a rookie Russian cosmonaut launched toward the International Space Station Monday, their fiery blastoff was not without a touch of irony: The trio rode a pillar of flame into orbit while carrying a toy mascot known for promoting fire safety.

NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin launched with Smokey Bear, a toy of the mascot used by the U.S. Forest Service to promote awareness of the dangers of human-started fires.  …..”
Read entire article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47435505/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.T7OUV8Upm58