CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- One of the six astronauts aboard the space shuttle slated for an upcoming launch is a graduate of a South Carolina military school.
The shuttle Atlantis lifts off Monday for a trip to the International Space Station, and among the crew of six is U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Randy Bresnik, who graduated from The Citadel 20 years ago.
Bresnik is taking a replica of the college's spirit flag, "Big Red" into space with him. The flag has South Carolina's crescent and palmetto tree on a red field.
Bresnik says attending The Citadel was the hardest mental and physical challenge he's ever faced. He says when he enrolled, he didn't think he could do it.
But after that, Bresnik says he knew he could do anything.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
