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Gabe Newell of Valve is launching Gnome Chompski into space (yes really)

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As if 2020 couldn't get any weirder, today a press mail from Valve Software entered our inbox because Gabe Newell, president of Valve, is getting a garden gnome sent into space. Yes, really, truly this is actual news and a thing that is happening. No this is not Kerbal Space Program.

This isn't some big joke, far from it. Working with Rocket Lab, a garden gnome will be launched into space while Newell from Valve watches. So why? Newell has announced that for every person who watches the launch live or within 24 hours of launch, one dollar will be donated by Newell to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Starship. With the email joking that this will help "Newell's ultimate dream -- launching a children's hospital into space -- but in the interim will be used for more practical hospital-related purposes".

The gnome is no ordinary garden ornament either. Created with the help of Weta Workshop, not only is it printed in the shape of Half-Life gaming icon Gnome Chompski, part of this is also to test "and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components" and also as something of a homage to "the innovation and creativity of gamers worldwide". Sadly, Chompski is not expected to make it back to earth as it will burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere during the de-orbiting process.

For those who didn't know, Gabe Newell has been in New Zealand visiting Weta Workshop and Rocket Labs, when the pandemic hit and has since called Auckland his temporary home. The email mentioned that Newell has been "looking for a way to help the economy and the community that sheltered him (or at least hasn't kicked him out yet)" and to assure the people of New Zealand that "his eccentric attempts at charity are largely harmless and pose no immediate threat to their way of life".

You will be able to watch it happen live at https://www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream sometime on November 16 NZT / November 15 UTC with the exact time to be confirmed. More info on the full mission here.

Update: it happened, watch it here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Charity, Misc, Space, Valve
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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30 comments
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loothelion Nov 2, 2020
I wonder if this means we'll be seeing some space-based Left 4 Dead 2 levels in the future where we must launch/rescue Gnome Chompski :)
ttyborg Nov 2, 2020
Go Little Rocket Man.
Shmerl Nov 2, 2020
I was expecting Tux :)
whizse Nov 2, 2020
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I wonder what it is with billionaires and their affinity for launching things into space? Did Scrooge McDuck suffer from the same complex? What will I launch into space when my bank account ticks over nine digits? Serious questions these!
Mumrik93 Nov 2, 2020
Would love to see a live commentary by Noam Chomski as he watches Gnome Chompski being launched into space..that would be so sweet~
hmmm...
Remember that in Episode 2 there was steam achievement about launching the gnome to the space.


so...maybe....Is a sign that the game We want is coming..
I mean. Let me dream.
tmtvl Nov 2, 2020
Quoting: Comandante Ñoñardoso...maybe....Is a sign that the game We want is coming..

Half-Life Alyx 2? Could be in the works I guess.
Shmerl Nov 2, 2020
Quoting: whizseI wonder what it is with billionaires and their affinity for launching things into space?

I think it's because it's expensive and fun.
Koopacabras Nov 2, 2020
more space waste, another drop in the ocean. who cares right?


Last edited by Koopacabras on 2 November 2020 at 10:56 pm UTC
Gazoche Nov 2, 2020
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Quoting: The_Aquabatmore space waste, another drop in the ocean. who cares right?
The gnome is piggybacking on an already planned launch with 2 other payloads. Besides, it's all going in low earth orbit where space debris aren't really a problem (they de-orbit themselves after a while).
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