Pikachu, the friendly yellow Pokémon you know from games and cartoons, had a super special adventure in 2026. A real Pikachu plush toy was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) by the European Space Agency (ESA) and spent 67 days zooming around Earth. During its trip, the plushy circled our planet about 1,040 times! The ISS is a giant space lab that travels around the Earth every 90 minutes. Scientists from many countries work there to study how plants grow in space, how the human body reacts to floating, and how to invent new technology. ESA, a group of European countries working together, sent Pikachu to space to celebrate World Space Week 2026. Pikachu’s journey started on April 11, 2026, when a cargo ship called Cygnus brought the plushy to the station. After 67 days of floating, Pikachu came back home on June 17 inside a SpaceX Dragon ship. The mission was planned so Pikachu could feel 'microgravity,' which is that fun weightless feeling astronauts have. World Space Week happens every year from October 4 to October 10. It’s a time to get excited about space, science, and technology. ESA used Pikachu’s trip to create a cool exhibit that mixes real science with Pokémon fun. People can see displays about European space missions, learn how astronauts live, and find out how experts study the Sun and our Solar System. The exhibit started in Paris and will travel to museums across Europe until April 2027. Kids can see a life-sized Pikachu, watch space videos, and even try a virtual reality game that makes you feel like you are floating in orbit. Pokémon GO fans can join in too! From October 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027, players visiting certain museums can take part in special activities, like 'One-Star Raids' with Astronaut Pikachu and fun research tasks about growing plants. Did you know? Because the ISS goes around the Earth every 90 minutes, Pikachu traveled around the world over 1,000 times! That is like walking around the Earth 40 times. You might ask: why send a toy to space? ESA says it helps kids see that space is for everyone, not just astronauts. It shows that being curious is the key to exploring the universe. The mission also helped scientists learn how to keep small items safe in space, which helps with future trips. How does this matter to you? If you love Pokémon, you now know your favorite characters can inspire real science! If you like experiments, you can try growing your own 'space plants' at home. And if you dream of being an astronaut, Pikachu’s trip reminds you that curiosity and big dreams are the very first steps. Overall, Pikachu’s adventure shows that science is fun and even a stuffed toy can travel to the stars. ESA hopes this story inspires you to stay curious. Who knows? The next big space adventure might come from one of your own ideas!