Astronaut Pikachu

World Space Week 2026 is being marked this week, with the annual UN-designated celebration of space science and technology running through October. Searches and interest are surging across the US, UK, India, Singapore and Japan. Tie-ins are appearing too, including a Pokémon GO collaboration with the European Space Agency offering a limited-time Astronaut Pikachu as part of the celebrations.

World Space Week 2026 is underway, and the European Space Agency has turned to an unexpected ally to promote science outreach: Pikachu. The ESA dressed the Pokémon character as an astronaut in a campaign aimed at drawing younger audiences into space science. The initiative is drawing attention and some debate as the annual observance of space exploration unfolds across Spain, Mexico and beyond.

World Space Week 2026 is being marked with public events in early October. In Valencia, the Science Museum is hosting ESA and Pokémon exhibition panels from 6 October, alongside a plush replica of the astronaut Pikachu. The theme is drawing attention across Spain and Mexico, where searches around the week are trending high as museums and space agencies roll out outreach activities.