Zion National Park is out of this world.

On Monday, when the Space Shuttle Endeavor rocketed into orbit, mission specialist Lt. Col. Robert Behnken took with him a Zion National Park Centennial coin. The coin is about the size of the silver dollar. The front of the coin depicts Zion's Great White Throne landmark, while the back shows a tour coach.

The coin's space journey marks the final official event of the centennial celebration of Zion, which was established as Mukuntuweap National Monument on July 31, 1909.

Park spokesman Ron Terry said Behnken requested an item symbolizing the park to carry with him on the 13-day mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. The shuttle is scheduled to dock with the space station on Wednesday.

Behnken and his wife, Megan McArthur, also an astronaut, like to hike and camp in Zion and Behnken wanted something to show their appreciation of the natural wonder in southwestern Utah's Washington County.

Behnken also plans to photograph the park from space.

Terry said at the conclusion of the mission, the coin will become a permanent addition to the park's museum collection. The coins are available for $14.99 at the Zion Natural History Association Bookstore in the park's visitor center or online at www.zionpark.org.

Vsitation during the centennial year of the park set a record of 2.7 million visitors, up 1.7 percent from 2008, the previous record year.