India, Oct. 7 -- An adorable Pikachu plushie was recorded floating around the International Space Station (ISS). The clips shared by the European Space Agency (ESA) delighted space enthusiasts and Pokemon lovers alike. However, beyond creating a viral moment on social media, the yellow Pokemon with a lightning-bolt-shaped tail was carrying on a long-standing spaceflight tradition. For years, astronauts, including the first Indian on ISS, Shubhanshu Shukla, have packed plush toys as essential flight companions. They are, however, not simple souvenirs that the space crew carry; instead, these soft figures play a very important role.

The floating plush toys may look like fun companions for the crew, but they actually serve as zero-gravity i...