Snoopy In Space

Snoopy And Artemis 1

Artemis I, an uncrewed flight test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft that will travel around the Moon, launched in early 2022 before missions with astronauts. A zero gravity indicator is a small item that is carried on board spacecraft to provide a visual indication of when a spacecraft has reached microgravity. With no astronauts on board Orion, Snoopy will join a manikin and two other "passengers" in the cabin, and help share the journey with the world.

On January 5, 2023, Snoopy, the zero-gravity indicator that accompanied the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis I mission, was revealed in the lobby of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mascot was kept secure inside Orion throughout the Artemis I mission, which was designed to prepare for crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. On November 16, 2022, Artemis I launched aboard the Space Launch System rocket from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy, and after traveling over 1.4 million miles, Orion returned to Earth on December 11, 2022, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Snoopy has been associated with NASA since the Apollo era, and has contributed to the excitement of human spaceflight missions, inspiring generations to pursue their dreams. He is a symbol of NASA's dedication to safety and mission success.

Snoopy and other NASA collaborations

In 2019, Peanuts Worldwide and NASA commemorated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 10 and their long-standing partnership in promoting human space flight awareness and safety. As part of this celebration, NASA and Peanuts collaborated on STEM activities, a mini-documentary, and new products aimed at inspiring the next generation of space explorers. The collaboration, made possible through a Space Act Agreement, included the update of Snoopy's spacesuit and the introduction of new space-themed programming, 50 years after the partnership first began during the Apollo era.

Under this collaboration, NASA supported several new Peanuts programs that focused on modern-day astronaut Snoopy and space themes, including a STEM-based curriculum for students in kindergarten through 5th grade about America’s deep space exploration objectives. NASA centers across the country also participated in the anniversary celebration with local exhibits or STEM activities that incorporated the Lunar Lander's call sign for the Apollo 10 mission, which was Snoopy.

Other Apollo anniversary collaborations between Peanuts and NASA's partners included a McDonald's Happy Meal featuring Snoopy in his astronaut persona, as well as STEM-focused books, activities, and toys. Peanuts and its partner company WildBrain also premiered the first season of “Snoopy in Space” on Apple TV+, which NASA supported by reviewing the STEM content and providing mission information.

During the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2019, Astronaut Snoopy was featured as a balloon, wearing a spacesuit modeled after NASA's Orion Crew Survival System. Snoopy also appeared as a plush doll floating aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, who were aboard the space station at the time, delivered a message alongside Snoopy during the holiday celebration, highlighting the partnership along with the 20th anniversary of continuous human presence on the station, which is helping prepare for future exploration with Artemis.



Astronaut Snoopy was launched to the space station aboard a Cygnus spacecraft on Northrop Grumman’s 12th cargo resupply mission. The Snoopy balloon will appear again in the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Silver Snoopy Award

What is the Silver Snoopy Award?

The Silver Snoopy award is a prestigious accolade bestowed upon NASA employees and contractors who have achieved exceptional results in enhancing human flight safety or mission success. The certificate, which bears the inscription "In Appreciation," recognizes the recipient's "professionalism, dedication, and outstanding support." The award features Snoopy, a beloved character from Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip.



NASA astronauts present the award personally, as it represents their own recognition of excellence. The ceremony takes place in the recipient's workplace, in the presence of their colleagues. The Silver Snoopy award is one of many awards administered by NASA's Space Flight Awareness (SFA) program.

The award comprises a sterling silver "Silver Snoopy" lapel pin that has been flown during a NASA mission, a letter of commendation indicating the mission on which the Silver Snoopy pin was flown, and a signed and framed Silver Snoopy certificate. Additionally, the recipient is given Snoopy decals and posters.

The history of the Silver Snoopy Award

NASA aimed to increase awareness among its employees and contractors about their impact on flight safety, flight crews, and missions after completing the Mercury and Gemini projects [4]. To achieve this, NASA sought a symbol for spaceflight that was well-known and accepted by the public, much like the United States Forest Service's Smokey Bear.

The inspiration for the Silver Snoopy award came from Al Chop, the director of the public affairs office for the Manned Spacecraft Center (now known as the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center). Chop proposed creating an award featuring Snoopy as an astronaut that would be presented by astronauts in recognition of exceptional contributions by employees.



Charles M. Schulz, an avid supporter of the U.S. space program, supported using Snoopy for the award. Schulz and United Feature Syndicate, the distributor of the Peanuts comic strip, permitted NASA to use "Snoopy the Astronaut" free of charge. Schulz himself drew the image used for the award pin and designed promotional artwork for posters advertising the award program.

Requirements of the Silver Snoopy Award

To be eligible for the Silver Snoopy award, NASA or contractor employees must have fulfilled at least one of the following requirements:

1. Made significant contributions beyond their regular job duties to develop and implement human spaceflight programs while ensuring quality and safety.
2. Achieved a specific milestone that has had a significant impact on the success of a human spaceflight program while ensuring quality and safety.
3. Contributed to major cost savings or a series of smaller cost savings that directly benefit human spaceflight programs.
4. Played a key role in developing modifications to human spaceflight mission hardware, software, or materials that increase reliability, efficiency, or performance.
5. Assisted in operational improvements that enhance efficiency or performance.
6. Developed a beneficial process improvement of significant magnitude.
7. Made significant contributions beyond fundamental job responsibilities in support of NASA programs.
8. Maintained a high level of quality performance over an extended period of time in support of human spaceflight programs.