Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, began the last day of their visit to the United States by touring a facility that helps NASA explore the final frontier.
The royal couple visited the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt Tuesday morning, with the queen talking to astronauts aboard the international space station and the prince viewing work being done on equipment that will be taken to the Hubble telescope in September.
Despite the urging of several astronauts who will fly on the September 2008 mission, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, declined to try on a pair of bulky gloves the astronauts use to work on the massive telescope or try out a set of pliers designed especially for work done in space.
“I’ll leave that to people who know what they are doing,” he said with a laugh.
Astronaut Nicholas Patrick, who flew his first space mission in December, helped escort the duke around the facility. Though Patrick has experienced the thrill of blasting into space, he was even more excited to meet the royals – he hails from Yorkshire, England.
“It is a special thrill for all of us,” said Patrick, who gave NASA personnel a refresher on royal etiquette shortly before the prince arrived. “As astronauts, we have special jobs. But it is an extra-special treat to meet the royal family.”
After leaving NASA Goddard, the royal couple traveled to the Children’s National Medical Center in the District of Columbia. They will then head to the World War II Memorial this afternoon. The last event on their visit is a formal dinner at the British ambassador’s residence that President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush will attend.
