Pokémon GO: Mega Staraptor Debuts in Super Mega Raids September 19
Niantic's Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day runs Saturday, September 19, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. local time. Mega Staraptor makes its Pokémon GO debut, and
Editorial Team · 2026-09-18
Pokémon GO Puts Pikachu in a Spacesuit for World Space Week
By Editorial Team · published 2026-09-22 · updated 2026-09-22
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Niantic announced Astronaut Pikachu for World Space Week: the costumed Pokémon appears from October 4 to October 10 in one-star raids and through free Timed Research, with a shiny version possible. Research tasks must be finished and claimed by October 12. The costume follows a real Pikachu toy that spent 67 days aboard the International Space Station this spring.
What was announced
The event post on Pokémon GO's official site sets the window: Sunday, October 4 at 12:00 a.m. to Saturday, October 10 at 11:59 p.m. local time. Astronaut Pikachu is new, and there are two ways to get one:
- One-star raids featuring the costumed Pikachu for the length of the event;
- Free Timed Research, which ends in an encounter with it.
A shiny Astronaut Pikachu is possible from both. The research has its own deadline: tasks must be completed and rewards claimed before Monday, October 12 at 11:59 p.m. local time — two days after the event itself ends, which is the detail most people miss.
Nothing in the event is a paid ticket.
What it means for players
Costumed Pikachu are the most collected cosmetic line in the game, and they do not return: a costume that appears for one week is gone from raids afterwards, with only trades and old accounts as a source. For a collector, the calendar is the whole story — six days of raids, then two days of grace for the research.
One-star raids are the friendliest format for this. They can be cleared solo on most accounts, which means a week of casual play is enough for several attempts at a shiny rather than needing a group.
The backdrop is real: a Pikachu toy flew to the International Space Station in April 2026 and stayed 67 days, circling Earth about 1,040 times, alongside the crew that travelled up on SpaceX's Crew-12 mission. World Space Week itself runs October 4 to 10 every year, which is why those are the dates.
What happens next
The event closes October 10, the research window on October 12, and Niantic has not said whether Astronaut Pikachu returns later. The next event announcements come through the same news page, usually a week ahead.
