When Ryan’s MINI Adventure was born, imaginations soared with all the possibilities a little girl’s favorite toy might experience. There were events to attend, people to meet, places to visit, and frontiers to explore. Dreams provide inspiration and encouragement, and there was no greater dream than to one day have Ryan’s MINI make the ultimate journey—beyond Earth itself.
NASA astronaut Leland Melvin has devoted much of his career to inspiring children through space exploration and encouraging them to embrace science, engineering, and math. After hearing about Ryan from her cousin, Leland visited Ryan’s MINI Adventure and was so touched by her story that he made an unbelievable offer: to bring Ryan and her little red MINI along on his next mission aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Through photographs carried aboard STS-129, Ryan and her MINI traveled all the way to the International Space Station.
Every child deserves the opportunity to dream about who they might one day become. They are today’s joy and tomorrow’s future. We find great comfort, pride, and love in knowing that, for one incredible moment, Ryan reached beyond this world and proved that “Little Girls Can Do Big Things!”
Thank you, Leland.
As the crew of STS-129 prepared for launch, Leland reached out to Ryan's family with an important question: “How big is Ryan’s MINI?” With very limited space for personal items, it was decided that a photograph of Ryan’s MINI, along with a photo of Ryan, would make the journey instead.
After the mission, those very special photos were returned to Ryan’s family, along with certification that they had flown in space and a personal note from Leland. A true gift from the heavens.
Ryan’s MINI in the Japanese Experiment Module – rear window, International Space Station
Ryan in the Japanese Experiment Module – rear window, International Space Station
