Denmark's First Astronaut Arrives at International Space Station, Brings LEGOs

Andreas Morgensen, 38, is the first astronaut to hail from Denmark. He's an aeronautical engineer from Copenhagen. On Friday, he arrived at the International Space Station for a 10-day mission. Morgensen brought 26 specially designed LEGO minifigs--one of Denmark's most famous exports.

Morgensen is participating in Project Thor, a study of thunderstorms and lightning. The Daily Telegraph reports:

“It’s a great honor for me to represent Denmark as an astronaut,” Mogensen told fans on an ESA hangout before the launch. “It’s difficult for me to imagine what it’s going to be like … It’s not until I’m strapped in the seat and feel the rocket lighting that I’ll feel: ‘Woah, this is really happening!’”
Mogensen is also taking Danish flags, a classic rye-bread porridge and a text by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.