American astronaut Kjell Lindgren played the bagpipes in the International Space Station (ISS) to pay tribute to his deceased colleague.
Lindgren played in space to recognize researcher and scientist Victor Hurst of Wyle Science who helped train astronauts to prepare for space travel. Hurst died suddenly this October at 48 years old, to the shock of family and colleagues.
Lindgren said that he and the six other astronauts in the ISS had all known Hurst and had worked with him at some point in their lives. Lindgren himself trained under the scientist in preparation for his own space flights.
"I don't know if anyone was more enthusiastic and professional about being involved in human space flight," Lindgren recalled about the deceased scientist, describing Hurst as kind and always with a quick smile.
Lindgren's rendition of Amazing Grace with bagpipes is believed to be the first time that bagpipes have ever been played in space.
The Scottish pipes were custom made for Lindgren by the McCallum Bagpipes in Kilmarnock. Kenny MacLeod of the said company said that Lindgren got in touch with them last 2013 to find out if it was possible to make bagpipes that could be played in space.
Lindgren was not sure if what he wanted was really possible, but the company was able to make the pipes as requested.
"They're made of plastic - they're just easier to keep clean and to make sure they're not contaminated. They're also lighter," MacLeod said of the pipes.
MacLeod added that playing the bagpipes in space must have been a challenge because bagpipes are notably difficult to play in higher altitudes. While playing it, Lindgren seemingly had to punch the bag to get the air flowing, something pipers usually do with their bags but with much less required force.
"They're quite hard to blow so he's done well," MacLeod said.
Lindgren's bagpipe playing was also made part of TIME's A Year in Space series, a documentary made to record the one year long stay of astronauts including NASA's Scott Kelly in the ISS. The team is part of an experiment to study how man can adapt with staying in space for long term.
