According to John Grunsfeld, the astronaut on the Hubble telescope repair, owning an Alpine qualifies one as an important life experience for astronauts. Check out segment this recording of Car Talk. The reference is at 5:50seconds. [ed note: I think the original broadcast of this show was on June 6, 2009]
Here’s the link to the rest of the converstations with and about John Grunsfeld and the Magliozzis.