Snoopy is headed for the moon again.
In 2022, the first Artemis mission of NASA will take Snoopy to the moon. He was the intrepid space explorer who became the first beagle ever to land on the moon's surface in 1969. Snoopy in his plush avatar will be the "zero-g" indicator on the Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft, as it circles the moon.
Snoopy flew a similar flight more than 50 years back, with Charlie Brown as his call sign for the command and lunar modules. This was a last dress rehearsal before the first moon landing.
Craig Schulz, the son of cartoonist and producer of "The Peanuts Movie", said that he will not forget his father's experience on the Apollo 10 mission. I know he would be thrilled to see NASA and Snoopy join forces again to push the limits of human experience.
Similar: Watch the trailer for 'Snoopy in Space 2' on Apple TV+. It features animated stuff.
Snoopy's Artemis 1 Garb is a miniature NASA Orion Crew Survival System pressure suit. Peanuts Worldwide.
Snoopy will wear a miniature NASA Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS), pressure suit. This bright orange 10-by-7-inch (25 by 18-cm), garment was made of the same materials that astronauts will wear on future Artemis missions.
Snoopy will take off from Earth on the first Space Launch System rocket (SLS), and fly further into space than any human-rated spacecraft. The zero-g indicator will show that the doll will hover above the mission's "crew", a seated, strapped-in crew consisting of an instrumented manikin named for an Apollo 13 engineer and two "phantoms" human torsos who will collect data about radiation and other physical conditions aboard Orion capsule.
Snoopy will also fly with four LEGO minifigures. These will be packed with other NASA-chosen mementos in the Artemis 1 official pilot kit.
NASA's partnership with Peanuts Worldwide and Schulz dates back to 1968, which was the year before Snoopy flew on Apollo 10. NASA adopted Snoopy in 1968 as its mascot and symbol of safety after a fire claimed the lives of three astronauts at the launchpad. From the Apollo 7 mission to this day, NASA has given the "Silver Snoopy” award to contractors and employees whose efforts have made it possible for human spaceflights to be safe and successful.
2018 saw a new agreement between NASA and Peanuts to increase the use of Peanuts characters in promotion of deep space missions and to encourage students to study STEM (science technology, engineering, and mathematics). Snoopy has been featured in an assortment of merchandise and apparel in three years. He is also featured in a McDonald's Happy Meal and as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (returning on Nov. 25).
GoNoodle, a web-based children’s video company, will launch "Snoopy’s Space Week" on Monday (Nov. 15. This includes an original documentary about the creation of Snoopy’s Artemis 1 spacesuit. Young Minds Inspired (YMI), meanwhile, will provide teachers and parents with free educational materials. These materials include lesson plans on the Artemis 1 mission, and Snoopy’s custom-made clothes.
Before, Snoopy dolls were launched into space. A Hallmark-made plush measuring 8 inches (20 cm) was launched to space on a Northrop-Grumman Cygnus cargo craft in October 2019. A 7.5-inch (19 cm) plush was dressed in a faux leather white spacesuit with a red scarf, brown communications cap, and a clear plastic bubble helmet. This served as the zero gravity indicator aboard OFT-1. It was the first uncrewed test flight for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
Artemis 1's Astronaut Snoopy is unique due to the authenticity of the doll’s flight uniform. It also represents the latest effort by Peanuts & NASA to educate and engage families about space exploration.
"My father believed that NASA's association via Peanuts was one the most important aspects in his life. The other was his service during World War II!" said Schulz. "So I am thrilled that Peanuts will continue to play a role in NASA's 21st Century exploration with Snoopy participating in the Artemis 1 missions."
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