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Authorized paw operator

FacPaw

FacPaw, a snow leopard cat, raising one paw toward the camera

One paw clears the tower. The rocket handles itself.

FacPaw standing at the launch control room console with a rocket on the pad outside the window

Launch Habit

Three qualifications, all visible before ignition.

  • Raised Paw

    Raised Paw

    Never lowered during countdown.

  • Wide Eyes

    Wide Eyes

    Tracks every flame at once.

  • Soft Authority

    Soft Authority

    One toe bean clears the tower.

Standing Orders

FacPaw arrives before dawn and takes the same place beside the launch glass. Nobody remembers assigning the shift. The paw rises. Engineers stop asking questions. Fuel lines settle, clouds part, and one rocket begins reconsidering gravity. FacPaw does not press a button. The button understands the situation.

FacPaw with one paw raised

Launch Terms

Mission control keeps these essential facts where every nervous engineer can see them.

  • Ticker

    $FACPAW, used by the launch crew.

  • One Paw

    Required for full clearance.

  • Up

    Only approved flight direction.

  • Nine Lives

    Eight remain off duty.

  • Zero Buttons

    None need further explanation.

  • Daily Window

    Opens whenever the paw appears.

Paw up. Rocket up.