From Seema Hakhu Kachru
Houston, May 22 (PTI) Pope Benedict XVI has entered where no Pope has gone before ? space. The Pope chatted with astronauts as the Vatican linked up for the first-ever papal video call to space.
"Welcome aboard the space station, Your Holiness," the Russian commander of the 26th long-duration mission to the ISS Dmitry Kondratyev said.
The crews of the ISS and the linked space shuttle Endeavour waved to Pope, who smiled and waved back.
Astronaut Mark Kelly, aboard the International Space Station, received a visitation by the Pontiff via satellite.
The chat from Pope Benedict marks a historic event; the first time that a Pontiff has linked-up in space.
The Vatican was connected with the Space Station, Cdr Kelly, his five-man crew and six station residents.