Connect with us

Published

on

NASA is sending Snoopy, the iconic and adorable character from Peanuts, to the Moon aboard its first Artemis mission early next year. Snoopy became the world’s first beagle to land on the lunar surface in the Peanuts comic strips by the late Charles M. Schulz in 1969. More than 60 years later, it is again going extraterrestrial — only this time it will be for real. A stuffed Snoopy will serve as a zero gravity indicator on the Orion spacecraft as it flies around the Moon. The Artemis I is an uncrewed mission to test NASA’s deep space exploration systems.

Aboard the mission, Snoopy will be dressed in NASA’s Orion Crew Survival System suit. The miniature version of the orange suit has been made from the same materials that will be worn by astronauts on future Artemis missions. NASA shared an image of the dressed Snoopy on Twitter, saying Astronaut Snoopy “is no stranger to space”.

Snoopy has a 50-year association with NASA. It has been a mascot for spaceflight safety since the Apollo era. During the Apollo 10 mission in 1969, the lunar module was nicknamed “Snoopy” because its job was to “snoop around” the Moon’s surface to find a landing site for the Apollo 11 mission. Around the same time, Schulz also created comic strips that depicted Snoopy on the Moon. They helped get the public excited for space missions.

“I will never forget watching the Apollo 10 mission with my dad, who was so incredibly proud to have his characters participate in making space exploration history,” Craig Schulz, son of the cartoonist and producer of The Peanuts Movie told Space.com. “I know he would be ecstatic to see Snoopy and NASA join together again to push the boundaries of human experience.”

Zero gravity indicators provide a visual indicator when a spacecraft has reached the weightlessness of micro-gravity, according to NASA.

Under the Artemis programme, NASA is working to land the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon. The Artemis missions are the stepping stone for future missions to Mars. The first Artemis mission will pave the way for establishing a long-term presence on the Moon.


Continue Reading

Science

NASA-ISRO NISAR Satellite Prepares to Deliver Sharpest-Ever Views of Earth

Published

on

By

The NISAR satellite, developed by NASA and ISRO, is ready to begin full science operations. Using dual-band radar, it will provide high-precision data on land movement, ice dynamics, vegetation, and natural hazards, supporting global research and disaster management efforts.

Continue Reading

Science

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Spots Megaripples, Proof Mars’ Soil Is Still Shifting

Published

on

By

NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered striking megaripples — giant Martian sand waves — at a site called Kerrlaguna in Jezero Crater. These formations, about a meter tall, are larger than Earth’s beach ripples but smaller than the biggest dunes. Scientists say they formed when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and stronger winds, and many now appear frozen in t…

Continue Reading

Science

Scientists Create Glow-in-the-Dark Succulents That Can Replace Lamps and Streetlights

Published

on

By

Chinese researchers have created succulents that glow in the dark using special afterglow particles. The plants can shine for up to two hours and may provide a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to traditional electric lighting in the future.

Continue Reading

Trending