Dane Cook Invited to Join Next Space Mission.....

Houston, TX-In a suprising move by NASA, American comedian Dane Cook has been invited to join the crew of mission STS-122, the next planned space shuttle flight, as it delivers its payload of Columbus, a 23-by-15-feet research laboratory and the future center of the European Space Agency’s activities in space.

“This represents the next phase of the ongoing international mission,” said Michael Sarafin, lead shuttle flight director for STS-122. “We’re finally going to be able to realize the full capability of the space station."

Cook, who has released a number of popular comedy albums and starred in the hit movies Employee of the Month and Good Luck Chuck, which is likely to net the up and coming funny man his first oscar nod, will be undergoing several weeks of intensive training prior to the February 8th launch. Mission Specialist Craig Jergans, who has been assigned the task of preparing Cook for the mission, is excited about the opportunity to work with the 35-year old star of Crank Yankers on Comedy Central. "My role as Mission Specialist will be conducting fluid flow and chemistry experiments as well as shoving Dane Cook into open space."