Listen Now: Snoopy Goes to Space

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NASA is working on putting people back on the moon, and Snoopy is taking part in the mission. I’m Brian Banmiller on Business.

Next year the unmanned Artemis 1 mission will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On board will be a five ounce plush version of Snoopy wearing a space suit designed according to NASA’s specifications. The point of Snoopy is to be the gravity monitor. When he starts to float it will indicate the ship has entered zero gravity. And since the toy is soft and light, he won’t break anything or accidentally push a button while floating around. The Artemis 1 will circle the moon and then return to earth. This stuffed Snoopy, while on an important mission, is far from the first toy in space. An owl doll and an Angry Birds toy have been on the International Space Station. A plush R2D2 has been up with cosmonauts and the snowman from “Frozen” has also seen the stars. Stress-testing for the one-of-a-kind Snoopy toy will begin next month. NASA is hoping Snoopy helps keep the public engaged in future space exploration. Brian Banmiller, CBS News.

About Brian

CBS News Radio national business journalist Brian Banmiller has spent more than 40 years in the news industry, covering business, politics and the economy on television, radio and in print. Currently, his “Banmiller on Business” reports are delivered to an audience of millions nationwide.