World Space Week is kicking off on October 4th, 2026, so The Pokémon Company and the European Space Agency (ESA) are partnering together to launch a new collaboration to get people interested in outer space. To commemorate the occasion, French astronaut Sophie Adenot was sent into space with a special Pikachu plush to capture some incredible photos of their journey from Earth to space and back.
On a mission from April 11th-June 27th, 2026, Adenot and Pikachu orbited the Earth 1,040 times and captured some extraordinary photographs of everyone’s favorite electric rat floating in front of Planet Earth. I can’t say that I’m not jealous, though Pikachu was likely less scared than I would be of leaving Earth’s atmosphere. If you want to get in on the fun, a range of collectible merchandise will be purchasable from the Pokémon Center website. This includes two different Pikachu plushes, some TCG accessories, desk mats, and more.
The rest of the collaboration will see temporary exhibits going live at various ESA sites and museums across Europe, which you can find a list of on its website. A special Pokémon GO event will also be run with a new Pikachu to capture and some other goodies for players. Details haven’t been announced yet, though Scopely says to keep an eye on its website for more information.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
