By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
What was meant to be a celebratory reveal quickly turned into one of North Alabama’s most entertaining social media moments of the weekend.
On March 1, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center introduced two new astronaut mascots on Facebook — wide-eyed explorers in full spacesuits — and invited the public to vote on their favorite name pair: Apollo and Artemis, Percy and Celeste, or Nano and Nova. The naming contest runs through March 10 and includes a family four-pack of museum admission tickets and a planetarium show.
But while the center encouraged excitement, many online reactions focused on the mascots’ oversized eyes and expressive faces.
Within days, the post drew 368 reactions, 424 comments, and 70 shares. One commenter joked, “At the Space & Rocket Center, no one can hear you scream.” Others described the characters as “nightmare fuel.” Another quipped, “They look like the suits failed.”
Several parents chimed in playfully, with one writing it’s “not too late to start over on those faces.”
Humor aside, the viral moment underscores Huntsville’s deep connection to its space legacy. The Space & Rocket Center is a cornerstone of local tourism and STEM education, inspiring generations through Space Camp and hands-on exhibits.
Love them or fear them, the new mascots have accomplished one mission: getting Rocket City talking.
Voting continues — and in Huntsville, even a mascot reveal can launch a community-wide conversation.
