Valve founder Gabe Newell shoots garden gnome into space for a good cause

Garden gnome Chompski, known from Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Half-Life: Alyx, is going on a space journey. Gabe Newell has booked space with Rocket Lab to launch a titanium version of the gnome. The Valve CEO does this for a good cause.

Chompski gets a spot on Flight 16 from Rocket Lab of New Zealand. The launch of that Electron missile is scheduled for the second half of November. It is a so-called rideshare mission, with which dozens of different companies launch satellites into space.

The fifteen centimeter high garden gnome that Newell sends into space is made of titanium, but has no further functionality. However, it is intended that the launch will attract a lot of attention. Newell says he will donate a dollar to the intensive care unit at Starship Children’s Hospital in New Zealand for each viewer of the live stream. Also, for every viewer who watches the video in the 24 hours after launch, Newell will donate a dollar.

Chompski has already seen a lot of the world. At least, in games. In both Half-Life 2: Episode Two and Half-Life: Alyx, players can earn a special achievement by picking up the gnome at the beginning and then taking it with you throughout the story.

With the launch of the gnome, Rocket Lab hopes to be able to test whether the 3D printing technique used is suitable for making parts that can be used in space travel. The garden gnome was made by Weta Workshop, a company that makes props for films.

The garden gnome will only stay in the room for a short time. He gets a place in the Kick Stage of the rocket. That is the top part, which is used to put satellites into orbit with high precision. The Kick Stage then returns, including the gnome, to Earth and burns into the atmosphere.

It is not yet known when the launch will take place. There is a two-week launch window that starts on November 15th. The livestream will be available on the Rocket Lab website.