For more than 50 years, Snoopy has contributed to the excitement for NASA human spaceflight missions, helping inspire generations to dream big.
NASA has shared an association with Charles M. Schulz and Snoopy since Apollo missions and continues under Artemis with new educational activities. Up next — Snoopy will ride along as the zero gravity indicator on Artemis I.
According to NASA, a stuffed Snoopy doll wearing a custom orange jumpsuit will endure the lonely trip through space.
Snoopy will play the role of a zero-g indicator—NASA will monitor him through a camera, and when he floats, we’ll know that Artemis is outside of Earth’s gravitational pull.
Snoopy made his first trip to space during the STS-32 mission (Columbia’s ninth flight), which was repeatedly delayed—perhaps a foreshadowing to Artemis I.
When this rocket eventually launches, we hope that NASA shares images of Snoopy in zero gravity.
The agency’s Silver Snoopy award was created during the Apollo era and remains to this day. It is a high honor awarded to NASA employees and contractors by astronauts, celebrating achievements related to mission success and human flight safety.
Each silver pin given with this award, depicting astronaut Snoopy, was flown in space. Continuing the tradition, Artemis I will also carry a package of silver snoopy pins for future recognitions.
Under Artemis, NASA is working to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and lead the next steps of human exploration for future missions to Mars.
Artemis I will pave the way for a series of increasingly complex missions to establish a long-term presence at the Moon.