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ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot gave a Pikachu plush a special tour of the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a 2026 collaboration between the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International. ESA says the plush spent 67 days in orbit; it was a toy visiting the station, not a living or animated Pikachu.
What happened on the ISS?
ESA says the Pikachu plush traveled to the ISS during astronaut Sophie Adenot’s mission. It was in orbit from 11 April to 17 June 2026, a total of 67 days, and completed approximately 1,040 orbits, according to the agency’s collaboration announcement.
The visit was part of an official ESA–Pokémon collaboration announced for World Space Week 2026. ESA described a special Astronaut Pikachu experience and a wider program that included exhibitions, merchandise and a Pokémon GO event. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said the collaboration aimed to connect people across Europe with space through an engaging experience.
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ESA’s image shows the plush floating in the ISS Cupola, the European-built observation module. The Cupola is a place where astronauts can look out at Earth as it passes below the station. ESA’s image caption puts the station at about 400 km above Earth and says it completes an orbit every 90 minutes, producing around 16 sunrises and sunsets per day. These are figures reported by ESA.
#1 Best Overall
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 8-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 8-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
How to see more of the space station
The Pikachu image is a playful collaboration moment, not a guided tour video of the station’s modules. For a fuller look inside the ISS, ESA and NASA offer separate astronaut-led and virtual tours:
- ESA’s André Kuipers tour is a one-hour tour of the complete station, recorded at the end of his PromISSe mission. ESA says Kuipers spent 193 days in space and returned on 1 July 2012.
- NASA’s 2023 announcement describes Frank Rubio’s first Spanish-language ISS tour, recorded during his 371-day mission, and points to NASA+ and other agency channels.
- NASA’s 3D virtual tour lets viewers explore ISS modules digitally.
These are independent station resources; none was made as part of the Pokémon collaboration.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- CAPTAIN PIKACHU: Get ready to set sail with Captain Pikachu
- SPECIAL HAT: 8-inch Pokémon plush is super soft and wears a special captain’s hat
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Plush looks like it jumped right out of the Pokémon Animated Series
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 8-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
Rank #3
- ICONIC POKÉMON: Get cozy with Pokémon and the new Velvet Pikachu Plush
- UNIQUE DESIGN: Unique 8-inch plush is woven with high quality velvet
- SELECT SERIES: Velvet Plush is a part of the Select Pokémon plush series
- LIMITED RELEASE: This limited line is only available for a short time in 2023
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares
Rank #2
- POKÉMON PLUSH: Choose to cuddle Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon.
- SPECIAL MATERIAL: Snuggly 12-inch Pokémon plush is made with super soft material.
- AUTHENTIC DETAILS: Pikachu looks like it jumped out of the Pokémon Animated Series.
- TEAM BUILDING: Collect other 12-inch Pokémon plush and build your own unique team.
- OFFICIAL PRODUCT: Officially licensed Pokémon product from Jazwares.
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