Buzz
Snoopy, with his previous spaceflight experience, is once again collaborating with NASA. This time, he’ll be serving as a zero gravity indicator on the Artemis I mission to the moon. 2021 Peanuts Worldwide LLC/NASAMain Highlights
- NASA's Artemis program is set to return humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.
- Snoopy, the cherished Peanuts character, is NASA's mascot for its safety program.
- The collaboration between NASA and Peanuts Worldwide is designed to spark interest in space exploration among the next generation.
The Artemis I mission to the moon is set to make its third launch attempt on Nov. 14, 2022, weather permitting. This uncrewed mission will test the systems of the Orion spacecraft. If successful, it will pave the way for astronauts to use Orion on future Artemis missions.
While there won’t be any humans on board, Artemis I will carry two special passengers: Snoopy, representing NASA, and Shaun the Sheep, representing the European Space Agency (ESA). Snoopy, a veteran of space travel, previously flew aboard the Columbia space shuttle in 1990, so he's likely to offer Shaun some advice along the way.
But Snoopy and Shaun aren’t just along for the ride. They have a specific mission as zero gravity indicators. Their floating will signify that Artemis has reached the microgravity environment of space.
Snoopy, the beloved beagle created by cartoonist Charles Schulz in 1950, will sport a bright orange space suit, made from the same material as human spacesuits, complete with little gloves and boots. He'll even wear an Artemis mission patch. Shaun, meanwhile, will wear a blue suit similar to those of ESA astronauts.
Why Snoopy, specifically, for this mission? In May 1969, the crew of the Apollo 10 mission used the term “snooped” to describe their reconnaissance of the moon, where they surveyed the landing site for the Apollo 11 mission. The Apollo 10 module was nicknamed Snoopy, and the command module was named Charlie Brown, after Snoopy's cartoon owner.
Astronauts have long worn fabric hoods under their helmets, and in the Apollo era, these hoods featured large pouches on either side to hold communication devices. These hoods came to be called "Snoopy caps" because their shape resembled the beagle's black ears. Fortunately for the astronauts of Artemis, technology has advanced, and smaller communication tools no longer require such a bulky cap.
Shaun the Sheep, the specially trained woolly astronaut, will join his friend Snoopy aboard the Artemis I mission to the moon.
Axonoff/European Space AgencyThe Apollo missions were named after the Greek sun god. However, it makes much more sense for the new moon missions to be named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and Apollo's twin sister. These missions will also mark a historic moment, as they will land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon.
