World Space Week begins on October 4 and Pokémon is ready to blast off! The Pokémon Company International and the European Space Agency (ESA) are launching a collaboration to shine cosmic light on ESA’s space exploration missions and to inspire the next generation of explorers.

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To promote the partnership, French astronaut Sophie Adenot voyaged to outer space and back with a special Pikachu plush before appearing in a special ceremony at the ESA Headquarters in Paris, France. She captured out-of-this-world moments with this lucky plush, both on Earth and onboard the International Space Station, and you can check out some of their amazing photos and videos on the ESA website now!

Exhibitions at ESA facilities during ESA Open Days and at museums across Europe will be available during World Space Week and beyond.

ESA Facilities

- ESA Headquarters – Paris, France

- ESA ESRIN – Rome, Italy

- ESA ESOC – Darmstadt, Germany

- ESA ESAC – Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain

- ESA ESTEC – Noordwijk, the Netherlands

- ESA ECSAT – Harwell, UK

Museums

- Science Museum – London, UK

- Cité de l’espace – Toulouse, France

- Deutsches Museum – Germany

- Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències - Museu de les Ciències – Valencia, Spain

- Space Expo – the Netherlands

- Euro Space Center – Belgium

To celebrate this stellar occasion, PokemonCenter.com will have a spectacular lineup of collaboration products, including plush, Pokémon TCG accessories, and more. Both Pikachu plush sport iconic ESA astronaut outfits—just like the Pikachu that Adenot brought to the ISS! Embrace out-of-this-world style with a fly bomber jacket or space-ify your deck with Pokémon TCG accessories featuring art from the ESA collaboration.

The ESA online shop will also have a lineup of special Pikachu-themed ESA apparel, including T-shirts, a tote bag, a notepad, and pins.

Not to be left out, Pokémon GO will also offer in-game delights during World Space Week—details will be available soon on the Pokémon GO official site.

Keep an eye on Pokemon.com for more about the TPCi and ESA World Space Week partnership, and stay on top of Pokémon Center’s latest offerings by signing up for Pokémon Center emails.