Pigs in Space Pigs in Space is a recurring sketch from " The Muppet Show " , featuring the exploits of Captain Link Hogthrob , First Mate Piggy , and Dr . Julius Strangepork leading a crew of pigs aboard the " Swinetrek " . The sketch , in concept , is essentially a parody of " Star Trek " , " Lost in Space " and other space operas of the 1960s and 70s . Pigs in Space first appeared on " The Muppet Show " during the second season . The recurring sketch became a popular part of the series , appearing in 32 episodes over four seasons . During the sketch ' s first year , Pigs in Space began with an introduction featuring the crew ' s commanding roster . Each introduction , narrated by Jerry Nelson as the Announcer , used several different humorous adjectives to describe the characters by name . This was dropped starting with the third season . The concept of a pig - dominated science fiction story first appeared in " " . " Return to Beneath the Planet of the Pigs " parodied " Planet of the Apes " with a human character finding himself under the scrutiny of an all - pig populated world . Although it pre - dates " The Muppet Show " ’ s second season introduction of the proper Pigs in Space sketch format by two years , Frank Oz considers it something of a prototype for what would become a recurring segment . The popularity of Pigs in Space won the sketch a spot on the second " Muppet Show " cast album released in 1978 . The script for the skit used in was re - recorded in the studio by the performers . That same year , the events of the sketch from were translated to the pages of " The Muppet Show Book " , as illustrated by Tudor Banus . The height of pop - culture awareness for the crew of the " Swinetrek " occurred in 1981 . As part of NASA ' s morning wake - up call tradition , by which the crew of the space shuttle are awakened with stirring music , familiar song lyrics , or comedy routines in order to boost morale and encourage camaraderie between the astronauts and their mission control colleagues , the crew of the were greeted by Pigs in Space on two consecutive mornings . Specially recorded by the Muppet performers for this occasion , two separate comedy routines were heard , one on the morning of November 13 , and another on November 14 , where it followed a rendition of " Columbia , Gem of the Ocean " by a flight directorate band . After " The Muppet Show " , Pigs in Space was adapted into a video game for Atari , featured as animated segments on " Little Muppet Monsters " , revived as on " Muppets Tonight " , appeared in comic book format in " The Muppet Show Comic Book " by Roger Langridge , and as an online web series launched in 2016 . Comics . The " Pigs in Space " sketch from was translated into illustrated form in " The Muppet Show Book " by Tudor Banus . " Pigs in Space " appeared in The Muppet comic strip written and illustrated by Guy and Brad Gilchrist . Roger Langridge adapted the sketch into a comic for Disney Adventures magazine and included the sketch as a recurring segment in " The Muppet Show Comic Book " . In one " Pigs in Space " sketch featured in " , " a kangaroo appears on the " Swinetrek " and Piggy and Strangepork think that the kangaroo is Captain Link . The pair attempt to reverse the " transformation " by shoving the kangaroo into the teleporter , just as the Galactic Council calls in for a report . When the council receives no reply , they announce that they ' ll conclude the ship has been taken over and destroy it . However it turns out that the actually Link was simply taking a shower , and he is shown leaving the bathroom . " Pigs in Space " was featured in 19 of the 24 issues of the series . " Pigs in Space " was the central focus of the " " comic book . In the stand - alone issue , Fozzie and Rizzo pitch a " Pigs in Space " movie to two studio executives . Referred to by Rizzo as " Flash Gordon meets Animal Farm , " the story also features references to many popular science fiction series . See also . _ _ NOWYSIWYG _ _