Japan Wants to Launch Gundam Into Space for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

The project, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the University of Tokyo, will launch a microsatellite, called “G Satellite” with a measurement of 30 centimeters (11 inches) long, 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) wide, into orbit along with the 10 centimeters models of the Gundam and Char’s Zaku robots from the series, according to Japan Times.

 

This satellite would then be sent to the International Space Station aboard a supply ship in March 2020. From there, the microsatellite will be launched from the ISS and display a message through an electronic bulletin board.

Once the satellite enters Earth’s orbit, the robots will be deployed with the congratulatory messages in different languages. It will also display images, which will be taken with the onboard camera. Organizers will share those images with athletes through social media or any other news outlet.

“Like the Olympics, people are excited by space exploration regardless of their country or place of origin,” JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai said at an event in Tokyo, adding that he is also a fan of the hit anime series.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons / Madame Tatillonne (CC BY-SA 4.0)