Canada's latest breakthrough in space exploration doesn't involve the Canadarm or the International Space Station. It involves Lego. The Toronto Star found two Toronto teens who, not for school nor money, sent a balloon up to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere with a video camera and a Lego astronaut. Even better: the Lego man Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad sent heavenward is holding a Canadian flag, which makes him this country's latest astronaut.

From the Star:

The project cost $400 and took four months of free Saturdays. It wasn’t a school assignment. They just thought it would be cool.

“We didn’t really believe we could do it until we did,” says Ho.

“It shows a tremendous degree of resourcefulness,” says Dr. Michael Reid, a University of Toronto astrophysics professor. Noting that similar projects had been undertaken by PhD students, he said, “For two 17-year-olds to accomplish this on their own is pretty impressive.”

The whole story is excellent, with a step-by-step guide on how the teens built their delivery vehicle and their wise decision to avoid crossing international borders with it. Also, dumpling making.

Congrats to Ho and Muhammad, if for no other reason than the pretty great video.

Blog photo by DaveNeukirch via Flickr.