Naoko Takeuchi's classic battle magical girl series, Sailor Moon, has been captivating audiences for over 34 years, maintaining incredible popularity not just in Japan but also with a massive fanbase across Europe and America.
Recently, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the manned Orion spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During a live broadcast from the control center for the "Artemis II" mission, eagle-eyed netizens unexpectedly spotted a Sailor Moon Artemis doll! They also noticed a staff member wearing a Sailor Moon lanyard, causing the discovery to instantly go viral online. Netizens exclaimed, "This is too much, lol!" and "There's an anime otaku in NASA!"
NASA's official YouTube channel provided a full live stream of the control center and the launch. It was in the "CAPCOM" communications area that sharp-eyed viewers noticed a plush doll of Artemis, the cat character from Sailor Moon!
Even funnier, this Artemis doll was on a lower shelf the day before the launch, but on launch day, it had been moved to the top shelf, almost as if it had been "promoted" XD.
▼ The day before launch
▼ Moved up on launch day!
What makes this even more amusing is that the mission itself is named "Artemis," just like the doll's character! Japanese netizens quickly chimed in, saying, "This is such a clever homage!" "Japanese anime appearing at such an important space event!" and "Truly a world-class magical girl anime!"
And it wasn't just the doll! A staff member in the footage was seen sporting a Sailor Moon lanyard around his neck, looking like a truly dedicated fan XD. It makes you wonder if the doll was also his personal good luck charm.
The staffer in question is actually former astronaut Stanley G. Love, 60 years old, who is currently involved in developing the cockpit display and control systems for Orion and future spacecraft. NASA's official website even lists "anime" as one of his interests! He's actually been spotted wearing that Sailor Moon lanyard before, confirming his status as a long-time fan.
This manned lunar mission marks the first of its kind in 54 years, since Apollo 17 in December 1972. The Orion spacecraft, carrying four astronauts, is expected to orbit the moon for 10 days before returning to Earth.
It's fascinating how a super serious space mission unexpectedly garnered attention thanks to a small Sailor Moon detail. It just goes to show that a love for anime knows no age, with a 60-year-old NASA staffer casually showcasing his fandom at work XD.