Obama space station pizza. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) got a very long-distance call Friday from US President Barack Obama, who joked that he thought he was dialing out for pizza.

Hot from giving a press conference at which he pushed Republicans to reach a deal on raising the US debt ceiling, the American president took time out to chat with the 10 astronauts and cosmonauts currently aboard the ISS.


"I was just dialing out for pizza, and I didn't expect to end up in space," Obama quipped, raising a laugh from the gathered crew.

But turning serious, he told the astronauts how proud he was of them and said their work "ushers in an exciting new era to push the frontiers of space exploration and human spaceflight."

"The space program has always embodied our sense of adventure and exploration and courage," the president said.

He said he wanted to thank all the men and women of NASA for the work that has been poured into the 30-year space shuttle program which will end when Atlantis and its crew of four return to Earth next week.

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