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13 Astronauts Celebrate 2 Big Space Anniversaries

The astronauts aboard the orbiting shuttle-station complex celebrated two big anniversaries Monday as they geared up for the third and final spacewalk of their mission.

And the world was treated to the first recital of traditional Japanese music and poetry in space.

Monday marked the 49th anniversary of the first human spaceflight -- by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961 -- and the 29th anniversary of the first shuttle launch.

''April 12th's a really special day for astronauts,'' said space shuttle Discovery's commander, Alan Poindexter.

In honor of Russia's Cosmonauts Day, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the residents of the International Space Station to wish them well. Three are Russian, two are American and one is Japanese.

''Space is something that unites all of us. It's a global issue,'' Medvedev told them.

Medvedev suggested that world leaders hold a summit to discuss space exploration, as they do other matters. On Thursday, President Barack Obama will visit Kennedy Space Center to elaborate on NASA's role once the shuttle era ends. Only three shuttle flights remain after this one.

''Space is our highest priority, regardless of how hard the economic situation was in the country and will be, I'm sure,'' Medvedev told the station crew.

In addition to the space station's six occupants, there are seven shuttle visitors -- a Japanese woman and six Americans.

The two Japanese -- the station's Soichi Noguchi and shuttle astronaut Naoko Yamazaki -- took a call Monday from dignitaries and schoolchildren in Tokyo.

This is the first time two Japanese astronauts have flown together in space.

Yamazaki shared a haiku -- or Japanese poem -- she wrote after seeing Earth for the first time from space. Then, with Noguchi accompanying her on an electric keyboard, she performed a Japanese folk music springtime piece, ''Sakura Sakura,'' which translates as ''Cherry Blossom.'' Noguchi opened the piece with a few notes on a traditional wooden flute.

''This is probably the first time that you are going to hear the historic performance from space,'' Noguchi said.

The recital took place in Japan's big science lab, Kibo, or Hope.

It was a slower pace for the astronauts Monday. They got some time off one week into Discovery's flight. 

How big will 'Alice' B.O. grow?

Disney is set for a very important date this weekend at the domestic box office with much-anticipated 3D film "Alice in Wonderland" launching at 3,728 locations.

Pic's total domestic 3D count stands at 2,063 locations plus 180 Imax 3D engagements, making it the largest 3D bow ever.

Also opening is Overture's second wide release in two weeks, cop actioner "Brooklyn's Finest," starring Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere, at 1,936.

Overseas, "Alice" is expected to dominate with some 40 territories opening day-and-date, repping approximately 60% of the international market.

Twentieth Century Fox's "Avatar" could also continue to play a significant role overseas as "Alice" won't open in this frame in key markets like China and Japan, both top territories for "Avatar."

Disney has high hopes for the Tim Burton-directed film, which was caught in the recent maelstrom over the studio's plan to shorten the 3D tentpole's theatrical window.

Major exhibs abroad threatened to boycott the film after Disney revealed plans to shorten theatrical-to-DVD windows on two titles a year, beginning with "Alice." The revised window would be shortened to just over 12 weeks of theatrical play, as opposed to the traditional 16 weeks.

When the dust settled, top U.K. exhibs agreed to screen the film.

The Mouse House said tracking for "Alice," starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, is strong across all quadrants and should pique the curiosity of both families and young adults given the film's 3D component. Studio said the 3D aspect is an integral part of the film and expects 3D revenue to boost "Alice's" overall B.O. performance.

Previous record-holder for an opening at the most 3D engagements was "Avatar" at 2,023 3D locations, accounting for 59% of the film's total domestic count of 3,452.

Exhibs and 3D suppliers are grappling with not enough 3D screens for the bonanza of upcoming 3D releases. "Alice" begins the barrage, followed by Paramount's launch of "How to Train Your Dragon" on March 26 and Warner Bros.' "Clash of the Titans," bowing on April 2. 

Dragon Ball Plot summary

The series begins with a monkey-tailed boy named Goku befriending a teenage girl named Bulma, and together they go on a quest to find the seven magic Dragon Balls. Along the way, they meet and befriend a plethora of martial artists. Goku also undergoes rigorous training regimes and educational programs in order to fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament, a competition involving the most powerful fighters in the world. Outside the tournaments, Goku faces diverse villains such as Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, the demon Piccolo Daimao and his offspring Piccolo Jr., who eventually becomes Goku's ally.

As a young adult, Goku meets his older brother Raditz, who tells him that they come from a race of extraterrestrials called Saiyans. The Saiyans had sent Goku to Earth as an infant to conquer the planet for them, but he suffered a severe head injury soon after his arrival and lost all memory of his mission. Goku refuses to help Raditz continue the mission, after which he begins to encounter other enemies from space, most notably the Saiyan prince Vegeta, who becomes his rival and, eventually, his ally as well. He later encounters Frieza, the galactic tyrant responsible for the destruction of the Saiyan race, whose actions cause Goku to transform into a legendary Super Saiyan. After an epic battle on the planet Namek, Goku defeats Frieza, avenging the lives of millions across the universe.

Four years later, a group of androids from the former Red Ribbon Army appear, seeking revenge against Goku. During this time, an evil life form called Cell emerges and, after absorbing two of the androids to increase his power, holds his own martial arts tournament to decide the fate of the Earth, but is eventually defeated by Goku's first child Son Gohan. Seven years later, Goku is drawn into another battle for the universe against an extraterrestrial named Majin Buu. Joined by Vegeta and Gohan, Goku succeeds in destroying the evil half of Buu and the good half of Buu settles down with them. Ten years later, at another World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku meets the evil Buu's human reincarnation, Uub. At the end of the series, Goku takes Uub away on a journey to train him as the Earth's next defender.