Tintin, the first man in space and on the Moon

by Anusuya Datta
Monday, April 22, 2024

April 12 is a historic day for the space industry. On this day back in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. Not to be left behind, the United States sent its first man into space in less than a month—Alan Shepard on May 5—thus sparking the famous space race between the two Cold War superpowers. December 1968 saw the launch of Apollo 8, the first manned space mission to orbit the Moon, and about seven months later Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the historic Moon landing on July 20, 1969.

But everyone knows all this, and that’s not the story.

What many don’t know is that super hack Tintin was way ahead of both the superpowers in flying to space as well as landing on Moon. Yes, we are talking about the Belgian boy with a tuft of ginger hair.

For the uninitiated, Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, popularly known as Hergé, created the iconic character Tintin, whose adventures have captivated readers all over the world for the past 80 years. The series stands as one of the most beloved European comics of the 20th century, translated into more than 50 languages and selling over 200 million copies worldwide, and even inspiring a film adaptation by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.

Hergé’s Explorers on the Moon was published in Le Journal Tintin in 1950. This first part was retitled as Destination Moon and published in 1953, followed by Explorers on the Moon in 1954. So technically, Tintin made the Moon landing in 1950, 19 years before Armstrong.

Who would have imagined reading the book in 1950—when Tintin exclaims after taking a few steps on lunar surface, “I have taken a few steps. For the first time certainly in the history of mankind, there is an explorer on the Moon!”—that another man would utter almost similar words 19 years later: “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind”?

And this time for real!

But how did Hergé anticipate the lunar adventure with such precision, especially coming so many years ahead of an actual man in space, let alone a Moon landing?

The Tintin Moon adventure has been widely acclaimed by critics for its exceptional attention to technical detail, with many hailing it as a masterpiece for its uncannily accurate portrayal of lunar landscapes and space exploration. It’s intriguing that, unlike Hergé’s earlier works, the Moon series, in his own words, didn’t have any “moonmen, monsters, or incredible surprises.” That way it’s fascinating how a renowned children’s comic book author would transition to science fiction while maintaining a fervent commitment to realism and accuracy.

Some believe Hergé's foray into science fiction could have been prompted by his friendly competition with colleague Edgar P. Jacobs, who introduced his own science fiction comic, The Secret of the Swordfish, in 1950. Beyond this rivalry, Hergé is also believed to have drawn inspiration from Jules Verne's 1870 novel Around the Moon and the 1950 American film Destination Moon.

For his tale on the lunar adventure to be a success, Hergé understood it was crucial to ground the space journey in scientific fact. He carefully eliminated anything fanciful or unrealistic from the script and conducted extensive research on rockets and space travel. He is said to have received help from his friend Bernard Heuvelmans, author of the non-fiction work L’Homme parmi les étoiles (Man Among the Stars). Additionally, he initiated correspondence with Alexander Ananoff, author of L’Astronautique, a book on space travel. During this period, Hergé also visited the Center for Atomic Research at the Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi.

Notably, he commissioned the construction of a small rocket model, which he presented to Ananoff for validation of its realism as a representation of a moon rocket. Subsequently, Hergé utilized this model for precise sketches when producing the comic.

Naturally, all this research showed up in the final product. The computer system at the Sprodj Space center in the made-up country of Syldavia looked a lot like UNIVAC I, the first commercially produced general-purpose electronic digital computer designed for business applications in the United States. Tintin's Moon rocket seemed to have been inspired by the V-2 rocket, the first long-range missile made by the Germans during World War II. It’s hard to miss the similarity between the red-and-white checkered pattern on Hergé’s rocket and the black-and-white pattern on V-2.

The resemblance between the red-and-white checkered pattern adorning Hergé’s rocket and the black-and-white design of the V-2 rocket is unmistakable.

In both books, Hergé seamlessly integrates elements of real science, infusing the adventures with a sense of authenticity. From the meticulously detailed space suits to the innovative use of atomic motors and rocket thrusters for navigation, the description of space exploration in the book reflects a deep respect for scientific principles.

The portrayal of weightlessness in space, along with the humorous inclusion of whiskey bubbles, adds a sense of fun to the story while maintaining its realism.

Who would have thought about the concept of viewing Earth as a 3D sphere more than 50 years before Google Earth!

Hergé even goes as far as to suggest that water exists under the Moon’s surface. Till a few years ago, you would have laughed it off as fiction.

As pointed out by literary critic Jean-Marie Apostolidès in The Metamorphoses of Tintin, there was a notable departure from the conventional “good vs. evil” narrative seen in Hergé’s earlier works. Instead, a new theme emerged: the struggle between “truth and error” as the lunar adventure takes on a mystical quality guided by scientific principles. The Metamorphoses of Tintin is the English translation of the first critical examination of the iconic Tintin cartoons where Apostolidès delved into character evolution and unveiled the cohesive vision underlying Hergé’s masterpiece.

Adding to the delight throughout the lunar adventure is Hergé’s signature humor, infusing the narratives with wit and charm, while his creation of lovable and awe-inspiring characters further enriches the storytelling experience. Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon are not only masterpieces in storytelling but also serve as valuable lessons in the art of balancing serious themes with lighthearted comedy.

Despite its Belgian origins, the Tintin series has garnered immense popularity and recognition worldwide, transcending cultural barriers, captivating readers from diverse backgrounds. The series has sparked imaginations across generations, instilling a sense of wonder and excitement for the unknown.

Tintin and his friends (including the snow-white Snowy) were as inspiring for our generation, and perhaps the one before that, till Harry Potter came in.

After all, the boy with a tuft of ginger hair who “always did the right thing”, had gone, to borrow the Star Trek line, “where no man had gone before”.

[This article was earlier published on the author’s Medium account.]

Anusuya Datta is a writer/journalist with a keen interest in Earth observation and sustainability issues. She is also part of the EO4SDG board and has delivered guest lectures at the University of British Columbia’s school of journalism on using satellite imagery in storytelling.

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