Jul 03, 2025
Meet the Toys That Have Floated in Space
Buzz Lightyear’s Galactic Adventure In 2008, a Buzz Lightyear action figure spent over 15 months aboard the ISS, helping NASA promote STEM learning in schools. To infinity and beyond—literally
Shubhanshu Shukla’s SWAN – India’s Pride in Space In 2024, Indian engineer Shubhanshu Shukla carried a hand-made swan soft toy aboard the Axiom-4 mission. Named “SWAN,” it symbolized peace, India’s space dreams, and zero gravity—it floated freely to mark weightlessness
LEGO in Zero Gravity Astronauts used LEGO space sets aboard the ISS to demonstrate STEM principles. These colorful bricks helped students on Earth visualize gravity-defying structures
Paddington Bear’s High Ride A small Paddington Bear soared to near-space in 2014 using a weather balloon. Though unofficial, this journey showed just how far childhood icons could travel
Darth Vader and R2-D2 Visit ISS Yes, the Force was strong in orbit! Star Wars figurines, including Darth Vader and R2-D2, have floated inside the ISS, thrilling fans back on Earth
NASA’s Beloved Snoopy Snoopy is NASA’s long-time safety mascot. Astronauts carry Snoopy plushies to space, and the Silver Snoopy Award is one of NASA’s highest honors
Angry Bird in Space To celebrate the "Angry Birds Space" game, a plush Red Angry Bird flew to the ISS in collaboration with NASA to teach orbital physics in a fun way
Cosmonaut Cuddly Toys Russian astronauts use plush toys, often teddy bears, as gravity indicators. The moment they start to float, it signals that the spacecraft has reached zero gravity
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