The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has teamed up with the Tokyo University Graduate School of Engineering’s Aerospace Engineering department to launch the first Gundam and Char's special red Zaku into actual space to honor the 2020 Olympics, which will be hosted in Tokyo. That's right, they're launching a Gundam and Zaku to cheer on their Olympiads. What do the other countries have? Sexy cheerleaders with short skirts? Psh. I want a Gundam cheering me on. I want Char's Zaku telling me to destroy the enemy. I am sad to report that it won't be giant models, like the one seen in Odaiba, that will grace our orbit. That would be one hell of a challenge, as mobile suits are almost 20 meters tall and weigh around 50 tons. Instead, they will be small plastic models.

For the uninitiated, these two mobile suits come from the first Mobile Suit Gundam series made, which aired in Japan from April 7, 1979 to January 26, 1980. The series didn't come to the west until 2001. With that out of the way, let's get on with the real science. 

The initial launch will take place at some point during the spring of 2020, at which point the suits will be sent into orbit while inside the “G-Satellite”, which will also feature as an electronic billboard. When the satellite reaches the correct position, the cockpit will be opened and the models will appear to float in space. The satellite and suits will orbit the Earth at a speed of around 8km, or 5 miles in freedom units, per second. Which means they’ll complete one orbit in about 90 minutes. 

This isn't the first time a fandom got some celestial height. Keep reading HERE to see how the Royal Pony Sisters Luna and Celestia got to the ISS.