On April 24, 2026, a LEGO Ideas model of Tintin’s iconic Moon rocket joined a European Space Agency (ESA) training mission aboard an Airbus A310 performing parabolic flights over Bordeaux-Mérignac airport in southwestern France.
The flight, which took place in early April 2026, formed part of a recurring ESA program that uses parabolic arcs to simulate weightlessness for scientific experiments and astronaut training. Over the course of the mission, the aircraft completed 31 parabolas, each providing approximately 20 seconds of microgravity conditions.
During these intervals, the LEGO rocket—complete with its miniature crew of Tintin, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Thomson and Thompson, and Snowy—drifted freely within the cabin, their orange space suits contrasting against the aircraft’s interior.
This initiative builds on a longstanding collaboration between the LEGO Group and ESA aimed at inspiring public interest in space exploration through tangible, educational experiences. According to ESA’s official documentation, such outreach activities are designed to demystify space science and encourage engagement among younger audiences by connecting familiar cultural touchstones with real scientific endeavors.
The choice of Tintin’s rocket is particularly resonant. Created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé in the 1950s, the vehicle first appeared in the comic albums Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon, published years before the actual Apollo 11 landing in 1969.
The LEGO Ideas Tintin Moon Rocket set (model 21367) was launched on April 1, 2025, as the toy manufacturer’s first-ever Tintin set. Consisting of 1,283 pieces, it stands at approximately 19.5 x 8 x 9 inches (50 x 20 x 23 centimeters) and includes six minifigures, all in spacesuits and helmets, designed primarily for display purposes.
On release, the set retailed for $159.99 and has since gained popularity among collectors and space enthusiasts for its detailed design and faithful recreation of Hergé’s original vision.
The ESA’s use of parabolic flights for both research and outreach is well established, and this mission highlights the ongoing partnership between cultural icons and scientific institutions to make space exploration more accessible and engaging for the public.
On April 24, 2026, a LEGO Ideas model of Tintin’s iconic Moon rocket joined a European Space Agency (ESA) training mission aboard an Airbus A310 performing parabolic flights over Bordeaux-Mérignac airport in southwestern France.
The flight, which took place in early April 2026, formed part of a recurring ESA program that uses parabolic arcs to simulate weightlessness for scientific experiments and astronaut training. Over the course of the mission, the aircraft completed 31 parabolas, each providing approximately 20 seconds of microgravity conditions.
During these intervals, the LEGO rocket—complete with its miniature crew of Tintin, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Thomson and Thompson, and Snowy—drifted freely within the cabin, their orange space suits contrasting against the aircraft’s interior.
This initiative builds on a longstanding collaboration between the LEGO Group and ESA aimed at inspiring public interest in space exploration through tangible, educational experiences. According to ESA’s official documentation, such outreach activities are designed to demystify space science and encourage engagement among younger audiences by connecting familiar cultural touchstones with real scientific endeavors.
The choice of Tintin’s rocket is particularly resonant. Created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé in the 1950s, the vehicle first appeared in the comic albums Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon, published years before the actual Apollo 11 landing in 1969.
The LEGO Ideas Tintin Moon Rocket set (model 21367) was launched on April 1, 2025, as the toy manufacturer’s first-ever Tintin set. Consisting of 1,283 pieces, it stands at approximately 19.5 x 8 x 9 inches (50 x 20 x 23 centimeters) and includes six minifigures, all in spacesuits and helmets, designed primarily for display purposes.
On release, the set retailed for $159.99 and has since gained popularity among collectors and space enthusiasts for its detailed design and faithful recreation of Hergé’s original vision.
The ESA’s use of parabolic flights for both research and outreach is well established, and this mission highlights the ongoing partnership between cultural icons and scientific institutions to make space exploration more accessible and engaging for the public.
