Astronauts aboard the International Space Station said they were shocked this morning to discover the body of Major Tom drifting by outside their window.  

Russian cosmonaut Aleksander Petrok, who first noticed Tom going by, said the incident was unsettling.  ”Я подумал, что это было прямое спутниковое телевидение, пролетавший,” Petrok said softly, shaking his head.  After being advised that no one had a clue what he had just said, he replied, ”Sorry.  I was surprised when I saw him, although at first, I thought he was the DirecTV satellite going by again.” 

During his last radio transmission before disappearing in 1969 , Tom requested that flight controllers, ”Tell my wife I love her very much.”  When controllers relayed the message to his wife Tachia, she reportedly just nodded and said, “I know.”