Peanuts’ Astronaut Snoopy Is Actually Going to Space

Peanuts character and cultural icon Snoopy will be taking off into space, with NASA announcing his use in the Artemis I’s mission. Peanuts, created by Charles Schulz is a daily comic strip that ran for fifty years and published over 17,000 strips. The comic would go on to inspire television specials, movies, and stage shows, with characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown becoming household names.

Peanuts follows the social circle of a group of young children, with humor coming from their interactions with forays into psychological and sociological commentary. Snoopy, as the dog of protagonist Charlie Brown, is not held to the same standards of reality as the children. He’s known for his good nature and high imagination, picturing himself in many outlandish situations, such as fighting in World War I, becoming a lawyer, and of course, going to space. The holiday Peanuts specials based on the comics have aired on television for over fifty years, a tradition that continues to this day.

NASA announced on their website and on Twitter (@NASA) that a doll of Snoopy dressed as an astronaut will be flying on their ship Artemis I as a zero-gravity indicator. This is not the first time Snoopy has been associated with space flight, with Schulz writing comics of the character in space to raise public excitement about the Apollo missions in the 1960s. Snoopy made his first trip to space in 1990 aboard the space shuttle Colombia.

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The same drawing of Space Snoopy was used in balloon form in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to raise further excitement about Artemis I’s upcoming mission, as well as promote The Snoopy Show and Snoopy in Space on Apple TV+, the latter of which has just premiered its second season. The show, with support from NASA, teaches kids about the planets and conditions for finding life in the universe. The Artemis mission has the set goal of establishing a long-term presence for humanity on the moon, as well has having the first woman and person of color on the moon.

The Peanuts comic has delighted and inspired people for generations, being one of the few properties fondly remembered by multiple generations. Since Schulz’s death in 2000, the franchise has continued to grow and delight fans, including a new Peanuts documentary coming soon to Apple TV+. With Snoopy soon returning to space, it’s clear that Peanuts will continue to delight and inspire the next generation into finding imagination and joy in their own surroundings.

Source: NASA, @NASA

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