{"id":632677,"date":"2026-09-22T18:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632677\/"},"modified":"2026-09-22T18:06:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T18:06:15","slug":"pikachu-plushie-actually-goes-into-space-as-part-of-pokemon-european-space-agency-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/632677\/","title":{"rendered":"Pikachu plushie actually goes into space as part of Pok\u00e9mon\/European Space Agency collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Shared spirit of adventure leads to team-up between Pok\u00e9mon franchise ahead of World Space Week.<\/p>\n

French astronaut Sophie Adenot is currently on her first trip to space, as part of the European Space Agency\u2019s ongoing Epsilon mission. Adenot isn\u2019t the only one making her maiden voyage beyond Earth\u2019s gravitation pull, though, as she\u2019s been accompanied by another first-time spacefarer: a Pikachu.<\/p>\n

Adenot blasted off back in February from Cape Canaveral, but as revealed in a just-released video that was recorded prior to her departure, Adenot took a Pikachu plushie, dressed in an ESA uniform, with her to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

The reveal coincides with the announcement that Pok\u00e9mon Company is helping promote the ESA\u2019s World Space Week events, which will be taking place from October 4 to 10. The ESA says that the two organizations\u2019 shared values of curiosity and imagination and spirit of adventure are the result of \u201ca common ambition: to inspire new generations to dream big, explore and experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As part of the celebration, there are two new Pikachu plushies on the way, one male and one female (female Pikachus have a heart-shaped tail tip), as well as crossover pins, patches, tote bags, apparel, and Pok\u00e9mon Trading Card Game accessories coming to both the Pok\u00e9mon Center and ESA online stores.<\/p>\n

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\u25bc There\u2019s no word as to whether Sailor Moon\u2019s Artemis was part of the ground control team<\/a> for the Pikachu plushie\u2019s spaceflight.<\/p>\n

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Though Pok\u00e9mon is best known for its in-game\/anime pseudo-science such as Dragon-type attacks being ineffective against Fairy-type Pok\u00e9mon or Eevee only being able to evolve into Umbreon under the light of the moon, in recent years the franchise has partnered with a number of educational, scientific, and cultural organizations, as seen in the Pok\u00e9mon Fossil Museum events<\/a>, the Pok\u00e9mon x Crafts Exhibition<\/a>, and Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum collaboration<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Full details regarding prices and on-sale dates for the Pok\u00e9mon\/ESA crossover merch are yet to be released, but ostensibly they should be available by the start of World Space Week on October 4.<\/p>\n

Related: Pok\u00e9mon Center<\/a>, ESA online shop<\/a>
Source: Pok\u00e9mon official website<\/a>, European Space Agency<\/a>
Top image: Pok\u00e9mon Center<\/a>
Insert images: European Space Agency<\/a>, Pok\u00e9mon official website<\/a>, Pok\u00e9mon Center<\/a>
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